This portrait of Matts Larsson was a gift from Carl Larsson to the boy’s parents, Elin Bonnier and the later on prominent Stockholm politician Yngve Larsson. The boy’s grandfather was Carl Larsson’s publisher, Karl Otto Bonnier. In honour of the artist’s 60th birthday in 1913, Bonniers published the book Andras barn (Other People’s Children), with colour reproductions of child portraits by Carl Larsson, including this one. Matts’ red breeches and socks stand out against the whiteness of the watercolour paper.