Arnold Kalmus was, in his time, best known as a portrait painter whose works were also exhibited abroad at showcases of Estonian art. Having received his main artistic education in St. Petersburg, Kalmus was drawn to Russian realism and academic subjects. Yet his paintings also reveal a touch of modern stylization — likely influenced by his travels and studies in Paris.

Kalmus lived in Tallinn, and a trip to Naissaar Island was not unusual at the time. In his forest view, Kalmus presents a romantic and idyllic scene: the forest floor is illuminated, patches of light appear here and there, and the greens are soft and pastel. He has cleared the forest floor of brushwood and undergrowth, transforming it into a refined and picturesque spectacle.