American sculptors maintained their interest in classical themes throughout the late nineteenth century and into the twentieth, in part because such subjects gave them the opportunity to portray the nude female form in complex, active poses.

MacMonnies created a dynamic sculpture of Diana, goddess of the hunt and the moon, by portraying her in mid-stride, just after shooting an arrow. Diana balances on the ball of one foot, an unstable pose that provides a sense of fluid motion. The sculptor placed a crescent moon in her hair, a traditional symbol that, along with the bow, communicates her identity. In contrast to the idealized bodies and faces of ancient Greek and Roman sculpture, MacMonnies based his figures on live models, incorporating naturalistic proportions and individualized features.