Ida Matton was born in Gävle. She studied at Tekniska skolan in Stockholm, before moving to Paris, where she trained to be a sculptor. Matton exhibited at the salons and was involved in the Union des femmes peintres et sculpteurs. She remained in Paris nearly all her life. This portrait is believed to be of the artist Ma Hanström (née Berendt, 1868-1950). They both studied art at the Académie Julian and were close friends.