Louise Abbéma was an accomplished French painter, sculptor, and designer of the Belle Époque. Born into a wealthy Parisian family, Abbéma began painting in her early teens, after which she studied under Charles Chaplin and Carolus-Duran. She first received recognition for her work at the age of 23 when she painted a portrait of her lifelong friend (and possible lover), the celebrated actress and artist Sarah Bernhardt.

The sitter is Marie-Louise-Renée née Delmas de Pont-Jest (1858–1902), an actress and sculptor, who was also one of Abbéma’s closest friends. Seated at a desk, she holds a letter written on a sheet of black-bordered mourning stationary, and seems to be penning a condolence note in response.

Abbema painted Pont-Jest several times and produced at least four likenesses of her. These include: a three-quarter length portrait in 1877 and an intimately scaled oval portrait in 1882, as well as two paintings shown at the Salon, Lilas blanc (1878), and Les Saisons (1882).

In June 1882, with Sarah Bernhardt acting as witness, Pont-Jest married the French actor Lucien Guitry. Before divorcing four years later, they had a son, Alexandre (Sascha) Guitry, who went on on to become an actor, dramatist, and director. Abbéma made her Salon debut in 1874 and subsequently showed in forty-five exhibitions over the course of her distinguished career. In 1906 she was awarded the prestigious Légion d’Honneur—the highest French order of merit for civic and military accomplishments—only the fourth woman to receive that distinction.