While at the Arts décoratifs in 1892, Marquet met Henri Matisse, who would remain a great influence in his career. This painting recalls the view of Notre-Dame Cathedral that Matisse would paint from his studio window as early as 1900, but Marquet uses a vantage point farther along the river, possibly from his own apartment at 25 Quai des Grands-Augustins near the Pont Saint-Michel, seen here bustling with carriages and pedestrians. Cool greys dominate this scene of Paris in winter, but Marquet produces a colourist effect by varying the tones from blue to brown and using accents of red and white.