Lisel Mueller did not publish her first book of poems until she was 41 years old. The first collection, Dependencies, was well-received by critics, although Mueller herself later claimed the poems in it were too decorative and metaphorical. Her second book showed more evidence of the brief, sharp Germanic style she would become both comfortable with and known for. This collection, The Private Life (1976), was a Lamont Poetry Selection of the Academy of American Poets. Four years later, she published The Need to Hold Still, which was awarded the American Book Award for Poetry in 1981.

During the 1980s, Mueller was also noted for her work in translating the work of German poet Marie Luise Kaschnitz and of German novelist W. Anna Migutsch. These translations forced Mueller into looking very closely at how her proficiency in two languages affected her choice of words in her own writing. Second Language (in which "The Exhibit" first appeared) was a direct result of that examination, and this book was recognized for its particular focus on the blending of public and private lives and the interconnectedness of history and present-day life. It presents very complicated subjects in her typical clear, precise language that appeals to poetry "experts" and novices alike. Her ability to evoke emotion and paint vivid pictures with plain, simple language (whether English or German) helped make Second Language one of her most widely read collections.