On New Year's Day 1890, Brendekilde travelled from Italy to Egypt. The crowded streets, the strange culture and the grandiose architecture made a huge impression on the artist. In a letter he writes (in Danish):

“The streets of Cairo are indeed odd. There are no pavements and there are camels and donkeys everywhere. The streets are full of horse carriages, Arabs, laughing Africans, Turks, Greeks, Europeans and whatever other rabble that can stay alive here. Everything feels utterly topsy-turvy. I've seen the Chalif tombs, where people have been born and destitute Arabs live. You walk on heaps of trash but on top of all this, you get the most wonderful panoramic view – Cairo with numerous minarets and in the background the row of pyramids that appear so nicely in the clean air ... Here it has occurred to me that the clothing of the European looks rather ridiculous. He shares too much of a resemblance with a dressed-up monkey.”

In order to better fit in with the locals, Brendekilde purchased an Arabian peasant clothing in indigo-coloured and Safran yellow embroidered silk and a pair of soft camel leather shoes.