In the summer of 1907, John came across a group of fishergirls working on the Normandy coast at Equihen near Boulogne, and was struck by their distinctive costumes. He made many studies of the girls in different group compositions, as he wrote to Dorelia, 'The fish women are simply magnificent, I must get a studio or shed here soon and paint 'em - there's money in it!' (see M. Holroyd, Augustus John, London, 1996, p. 241).