One of Baker's famous outfits was a skirt made from bananas, which Matisse may be invoking in the orange-yellow forms around the figure's waist. Baker's association with jazz music may have also inspired Matisse, whose had previously designed a book titled Jazz (1947).
Matisse may draw inspiration from Baker's banana skirt and her connection to jazz music, both of which could be reflected in his work, similar to how he designed the Jazz book in 1947.