Herbert Badham studied at the Sydney Art School during the 1920s and 30s, under Julian Ashton and George Lambert. Badham sketched this scene and then completed the painting in his studio at East Sydney Technical School where he also taught.

This view of a harbourside beach with netted swimming enclosure is possibly Parsley Bay in Vaucluse, near where Badham and his wife Enid lived following their marriage. With the sunlight reflecting off the water, Badham has captured a familiar summer reality for many Sydneysiders. Enid is shown in the foreground to the left, wearing red swimmers and a large sunhat.