In On the terrace, two beautiful women in fine traditional costumes are engaged in leisurely activities on a languid sunny afternoon. Fine tunics, jewellery, headscarves and shoes were the essential elements in the wardrobe of a lady and the various musical props, the narghile water pipe, enhance the impression of leisurely Eastern lifestyle that would have fascinated the spectator of the Parisian Salons where Ernst had exhibited his works since 1877.