Ester Sahlin (1881 - 1959) was an actress who started her career in Gothenburg. During the years 1901-1903, she and Ivar Arosenius had an intermittent but passionate relationship. Arosenius frequently depicted Sahlin during these years.

Gunnar Bohman (1882 - 1963) was also an actor who started out in Gothenburg, later becoming a composer and musician. He was for some years part of Arosenius’s circle of friends. Sorg (cat no 10) was most probably a gift from Arosenius to Bohman.

The dating of the drawing is questionable as it would make Sahlin and Bohman sixteen and fifteen years old respectively.