Composed in 1904, L'isle joyeuse (The Isle of Joy), but did not receive much acclaim. Compared to Estampes (Prints), composed the previous year, and other works written around the same time, it sometimes receives lower evaluations. Nevertheless, the character of the "clown" is vividly depicted through its beautiful and fantastical melodies and distinctive rhythms. Debussy is said to have aimed for "a tragic expression of human existence" in this piece. The instruction "très vif et fantaisiste" (very lively and fanciful) is appended.