The strange title of this statue, depicting a female figure, is based on a popular song (chanson) by the French singer Emma Valladon (1837–1913). While expressing French sentiments, or more precisely, the sense of resistance that continued in people’s hearts following the country’s defeat in the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871), on the surface the song seems to express France’s doglike obedience to the victor. Degas (1843–1917) also based one of his paintings on the song. In both that picture and Yanagihara’s sculpture, the figure faces forward with the hand outstretched. But there are also differences. While both of the woman’s hands are in front of her in Degas’ work, one of her hands is turned behind here.