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Elaine appeared in the 1970s, a period when San Francisco rapidly developed into America's largest city. After experiencing the Gold Rush of 1848 and the Silver Rush from the Comstock Lode in Nevada in 1859, San Francisco's population surged; the 1880 census recorded a population that had already reached 230,000. With rapid economic growth, demand for cultural pursuits increased significantly. Shakespearean classics, vaudeville acts, and the most popular melodramas of the era alternated on local theater stages. In 1871, the San Francisco Art Association was established, offering art classes and encouraging the creative enthusiasm of local artists.
Toby Edward Rosenthal, a young painter living in San Francisco at the time and also known as the author of "Elaine," gained fame during this period. Rosenthal’s place of birth is uncertain. Some sources claim he was born in New Haven, Connecticut, while others report he was born in Strasbourg, Prussia. In 1855, Rosenthal moved to San Francisco with his parents, whose family operated a clothing store.