The girl portrayed is ten-year-old Marguerite van Mons, depicted shortly after the death of her mother.

[1] The portrait shows Marguerite in a simple black dress in front of a pastel blue door with a number of gilded ornaments on it.

The painting derives its strength from the mysterious, dreamy look in the girl's eyes and the masterfully elaborated background that fully serves the model.

The gloom of the dress is in stark contrast to her pale mien and the soft blue hue of the door with gilded contours.

It is this ambiguous gesture and the general melancholic atmosphere that give this seemingly realistic portrait a symbolistic character.