From a young age, William Sidney Mount was surrounded by music, and he played the violin with passion. In 1824, Mount began his artistic career as an ornament painter in his brother's New York City sign shop. He eventually became an active member and regular exhibitor at the recently founded National Academy of Design.

In After Dinner, a central violinist, who resembles the artist, lulls his listeners with his melody. The men's full bellies and glasses of claret also account for the drowsy mood. They represent two social types. On the left, the man's high hat and side-whiskers mark him as middle class; on the right, the man's red cap and coarse peacoat identify him as working class. Mount's depiction draws upon popular clichés but avoids blatant caricature, revealing each figure's distinctive character. For Mount, music had the uncanny ability to reveal the essential quality of a situation or individual. In 1843, he wrote, "My violin has been the source of a great deal of amusement. It has enabled me to see a great deal of character."