Fret boards, strings, and keys from musical instruments punctuate the sharply angled forms of this painting, creating a jumbled composition that, like its musical references, harmonizes into a unified whole. Fleeing from religious persecution, Esphyr Slobodkina emigrated to New York City at age 20 and quickly became part of a circle of artists committed to abstract art. In 1937, she helped found the American Abstract Artists group, an organization that continues to support abstract artists today. Her linking of art and music in this painting reflects an interest shared by other mid-century artists who sought to capture the emotion of musical forms including jazz and blues - both developed by Black musicians - through the color, line, and texture of visual art.