In 1985, Trudy van der Horst bought this watercolour at an art fair in the RAI in Amsterdam. She had always admired Constant for his watercolours. The purchase led Trudy to a personal meeting with the artist a little while later, which eventually resulted in Constant's fourth and final marriage.

In May 1949, Constand and his family visit Asger Jorn on the Danish island Bornholm. A personal tragedy takes place when Constant's wife, Matie, leaves him for Jorn. She takes their two daughters Martha and Olga and leaves their only son, Victor, with Constant. 

Constant processes his heartache through his art: in Femme qui a blessé un oiseau avec une feuille morte, the bird represents himself and Jorn is depicted as a dead leaf.