Nolde was interested in art from the African continent, the Pacific and the Americas. He made frequent visits to the Ethnographic Museum in Berlin to study and draw the sculptures and objects of various global cultures held there. He also spent a year painting in New Guinea. It was originally thought that this picture was painted during his time there. However, it is more likely that it was done before his departure, in preparation for the style of painting he expected to make on the trip.