The part of the Swan Princess was performed by his wife, Nadezhda Zabela-Vrubel.

Vrubel drew inspiration for this piece from a Savva Mamontov private opera that premiered on 21 December 1900.

Vrubel was the costume designer for the opera, while his wife played the part of the Swan Princess.

However, the face of the Swan Princess in the painting does not resemble that of his spouse, as evidenced by a photo taken at the time the opera was shown.

The artist painted this piece at the farm of his parents in Chernihiv oblast, in present-day Ukraine, in the summer of 1900.