Antonio Bandeira began his painting career in the north west of Brazil before moving to Rio de Janeiro where he held his first exhibition in 1945, eleven years before he painted the present work. The exhibition was well received and Bandeira was awarded a bursary to study at Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris. It was here that Bandeira met the German painter Wols (1913-1951) who was to have a profound influence on his work. The two artists exhibited with Camille Bryen (1907-1977) in 1949 and together they formed the 'Banbryol' group. From 1950 works by Bandeira were chosen for inclusion in many prestigious exhibitions, including at the San Paolo Museum of Modern Art in 1950, the city's Biennial Exhibition of 1961, the Venice Biennale of 1952, the Salon des Réalités Nouvelles in Paris in 1953, 1954 and 1958, and the International Exhibition of Brussels held in 1958. Bandeira painted Ville Bleue in 1956 whilst staying with the parents of the present owner, to whom he gave the work.