From 1949 onwards, Gilot's artistic path returned to figurative representation. After the birth of her second child, Paloma, Claude, her son, is no longer the only figure in her drawings. The return to figurative compositions can be explained by several factors. Her relationship with Picasso was in question at the time, causing her to invest much of her time and energy in her work and in raising her children. Her style was also inspired by the spontaneous poses and playful moments of the young children, a period to which she referred as the 'white era' with its limited use of colour. In addition to her pencil drawings, Gilot began to work again in oils, but using only grey, black and sometimes a pale ochre colour for a touch of warmth.