By early 1918, World War I had made Paris a dangerous place. Food shortages, German bombing raids, and rumors of enemy advances convinced almost half a million Parisians to travel to the south of France for safety. Modigliani traveled to Nice accompanied by his 20-year-old lover Jeanne Hébuterne, who gave birth to his daughter in November of 1918.

Modigliani missed Paris and found that the bright light of Nice disturbed his concentration. Nevertheless, this was an extremely productive period for the artist and the many portraits of children, workers and locals done in the south of France rank among his finest work.