Early in her career Borlase painted in a figurative style, but this changed after 1956 when she was able to travel to New York. Here she saw the work of leading Abstract Expressionists Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko and Willem de Kooning. This had a profound impact on her work and her move to abstraction can be seen here. The work depicts Mosman Bay, as indicated by the title, but the introduction of collaged elements, free-flowing, loose brushstrokes and a colour palette removed from the landscape it depicts suggests the painting explores ideas and emotions connected to Mosman Bay rather than the Bay itself.