It was one of a series of identically named paintings; commercial archeologists have found 438 so far. In each she is drawn with crude strokes, and accompanied by an empty chair. Standard interpretations suggest the chair represents the absence of the artist, whose entire oeuvre is an angry reaction to her rejection and indifference at his absence.

The entire series was shown at an exhibition in 1955, and the art world was unanimous in their praise: "Primitive hatred in its rawest, most violent form," said one critic; "an exultation of detestation," said another. Jane, who was actually Janine Merkel of Brooklyn, did not attend the exhibition, having moved to the Town of Levitt years before to raise children with her husband. Informed of the exhibition years later, she laughed and said she hoped he found a nice girl eventually, but she had to go because she had to pick up the children from pool, and it was nice talking to you.