Painting style gradually shifted from academic towards impressionism. However, while the major Impressionists fled the chaotic milieu of Paris and painted landscapes of the surrounding areas, Béraud - like his friend Édouard Manet (1832-1883), and in some of his paintings, Edgar Degas (1834-1917), depicted the busy environment of late nineteenth century urban life. Artistic techniques used by Béraud, in particular, when drawing the so-called "À la salle Graffard", were later adopted by other artists. The upper part of the picture is hidden in a light haze, the musicians and spectators are depicted in the foreground, while the performers stand out against a darker background.