David Stein (born Henri Haddad, January 27, 1935, Alexandria, Egypt - Died October 1999, Bordeaux, France) was an artist who, until 1966, had been frequently sentenced for theft by the French courts before becoming an art forger and art dealer with 15 aliases. Stein often copied paintings in the style of the masters; His clients were mainly attracted by his low prices. For example, he studied Marc Chagall, Matisse, Braque, Paul Klee, Miro, Jean Cocteau and Rouault, in order to copy their color scheme and inspirations. This painting is signed, dated and dedicated to Otto Preminger. Stein writes on the back of the piece that this work was painted while he "was detained in the Tombs of New York".