Jeanne Hébuterne studied at the Académie Colarossi — a private art school. There, she met Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani who would choose his models from the students of the Academy. Soon, they began a relationship. Jeanne moved in with Modigliani and she became the main subject of his paintings. The artist painted about 25 of her portraits. The couple had a daughter who was named after her mother.

Modigliani suffered from tuberculous meningitis and he died in January of 1920 at the age of 35. Jeanne Hébuterne was pregnant with their second child at the moment and committed suicide the next day after her husband died. Amedeo’s and Jeanne’s daughter was adopted and raised by the artist’s sister.