Mlle Yvonne Landsberg was painted in 1914 before the outbreak of World War I and the uncharacteristically sombre colours and forms cannot be attributed to this, although the mood in Europe was somewhat sombre during the events leading to war. Rather, he appears to have been working out some new ideas, no doubt largely inspired by his friend and rival Pablo Picasso's cubism. The monochromatic colour scheme and the mask like face were most likely influenced by Picasso and his severe paintings of women as in Les Demoiselles