In Europe, blue paper first appeared in northern Italy during the fourteenth century, and was derived from discarded rags, especially those dyed blue, often to conceal dirt and stains on work clothes. The present work is on variegated blue paper, meaning it was formed, like much blue paper of its time, from a mix of different colored fibers (including blue) that had then been dyed that color. Paper tinted blue like this was a moderately fashionable commodity in Renaissance Europe, in demand for writing, drawing, and even letterpress printing. This blue-paper fashion expanded and peaked during the 18th century.

When depicting a three-dimensional figure on a flat surface, blue paper allowed an artist to use both black and white drawing materials. "Blue paper was the ideal colour for modelling and studying the depiction of volume...As a result, blue paper was often used for figure studies." (Rachel Hapoienu, "Drawn to Blue: Artists' use of blue paper, Courtauld London, 2024)