Paul Gavarni was the nom de plume of Sulpice Guillaume Chevalier, a Parisian who started life as an engineer's draughtsman but soon became a caricaturist and illustrator. His better-known work appeared in Le Charivari, though some of his most acerbic drawings appeared in L'Illustration after a visit to London.
This drawing is inscribed London, where Gavarni worked in 1847 and 1851, producing extensive series of drawings. He frequently depicted life on and behind the stage, drawing dancers and actors. This portrait is of an actress in the role of a queen, and its oval format mimics that of portrait miniatures. The actress and the role she plays have yet to be identified.