The sitter Dora Estlander, known as Dolly, was the daughter of Schjerfbeck’s cousin on her mother’s side, Johanna Estlander. Despite a 25-year age gap, Dolly and Schjerfbeck enjoyed a close friendship and Dolly sat for her often, including for Elegant Lady (Dora), a larger shoulder length portrait of circa 1928, in which she wears a daub of rouge on her cheek, in the Gyllenberg Foundation, Helsinki.

Dora was beautiful and talented and her admirers included a Bulgarian prince. Her hopes and dreams of an education, marriage and a career were dashed, however, by having to care for her mother. She eked a living painting small paintings and trays, which were sold in a shop in Helsinki. In this portrait, the sitter’s face is reduced to an almost mask-like apparition, the expression - if one can call it an expression - is of one so withdrawn that not even her feelings of yearning or melanchoy can find release.