This French drama looks at the creative process and tensions that arise when a famous painter, Frenhofer, returns to a painting he abandoned and discovers a new muse. Frenhofer is living with his wife and former model when a young artist and his girlfriend visit him, the girlfriend of the young painter inspires the painter to return to a long abandoned piece of art. Discovering a new model and muse highlights the problems in the relationship of Frenhofer and his wife, while the younger couple also see problems appear in their relationship as the painting continues.