Robert Henri devoted much of his career to portraiture and was particularly interested in capturing the fresh, lively spirit he found in children. This painting is one of many he did of the children of Achill Island, a remote Irish village.  Working in a quick and sure manner, Henri would often finish such paintings in a single sitting of an hour or two.  He advised his painting students to “Work with great speed. Finish quickly as you can … the most vital things in the look of a face … endures only for a moment.”