This fashionable lady is travelling through Paris with her little lapdog in a so-called landau – the equivalent of a convertible today. The roof was rolled back and the windows lowered, converting the vehicle into an open carriage. Moreover, it was lower than other carriages, giving maximum exposure to its passengers and their clothes. The identity of the lady in the landau is unknown. She symbolises a “type”, a specimen from the Paris street scene, rather than a particular individual – a modern, rich, chic woman who wants to be seen.