Les Sœurs Vatard shows the clear influence of Naturalism, being a realistic depiction of working-class life based on meticulous documentation.
Huysmans had inherited such a factory from his mother on her death in 1876, allowing him to observe the lives of his employees at close quarters.
Céline lives with an artist called Cyprien Tibaille - whose caustic remarks reflect Huysmans' own opinions - before leaving him for a man who beats her.
It received a glowing notice from Zola and was attacked by the more conservative critics who hated the typical bleakness of Naturalism.
Gustave Flaubert, one of Huysmans' heroes, was impressed by what he called "a powerful and outstanding work", although he criticised the book for its lack of focus, use of slang and its promotion of Naturalist concepts of artistic taste.