Nightingale Balcony - José Malhoa (1914)

I assumed he was a peeping tom, but on closer inspection his eyes are directed to the woman in centre who's calling to him - might just be neighbours chatting across the fence.

Burning in blue flames?

I'm assuming that the lady in the picture that is facing him, doing the "shh" motion, is his lover, and they aren't allowed to be public with their love. He may have stopped by to see if she could sneak away, and did not know they would all be out on the porch, spending time together. That's my interpretation, at least.

I think he's just catching some rays.

Oh, did you not mean the cat?