Pehr Staaff was a Swedish journalist and theater critic as well as a significant cultural figure in 19th-century Sweden.

The painting's symbolic elements, such as the scattered papers and framed portrait on the wall reflect Staaff's involvement in intellectual and cultural circles. His connection to figures like Henrik Ibsen (shown in the portrait behind him) underscores his engagement with contemporary ideas in literature and theater.

While rooted in realism, this portrait incorporates modern elements. The symbolic references and Josephson's focus on Staaff's psychology mark a shift from pure realism to a more nuanced portrayal which aligns with the wider European art movement exploring deeper psychological and artistic themes.