This painting is one of a number of Venetian scenes painted or drawn by Sargent (who spent most of his life in Europe) during his time in the city. It shows a young woman walking along the flagstones, kicking her skirt with her right foot and being observed by two men in the shadows to her right. From the manner in which Sargent depicts her down-turned eyes and the seemingly fast pace with which she passes the two men, he seems largely concerned with the invasive male glare and its effect on the passing woman. As in his other works, he largely ignores the architectural aspects the city is best known for and focuses instead on edgy back-street imagery. The influence of Impressionism is evident in a number of this work's features, especially in the broad brush strokes of the woman's dress and the unusual cropping of the composition.