Chopin dedicated this piece to one of his piano students, Countess Sheremetieff. Also sometimes listed under its French title, Feuille d'album, it is short, as an album-leaf typically is, but a bit more substantial than many miniatures by Chopin. Its mood is intimate, the tempo slow, and the keyboard writing quite simple. A decent amateur pianist could meet its modest technical requirements, but might well fall short in interpreting its deeper emotional aspects.

The main theme is typical of Chopin in its sweet gloom and sense of newness unfolding before the ear. Its gentle demeanor and slightly sentimental character convey a feeling of lost or past love. While this one-and-a-half minute piece may lack the freshness and innovation of so many other Chopin keyboard works, it is appealing in its understated emotional manner and attractive thematic wares. This piece was not premiered publicly until 1910, and is still rarely performed.

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