The painting relates to the short series of paintings on the them of Grief, which is also the title of the painting now in the Tate Collection.
Her daughter recalled the series:" I know to be from a series of photographs of people grieving post the Kennedy assassinations (Robert and JFK). My mother was very drawn to the mass grieving and also the stampede like response of the crowds, the public nature of these deaths, moments of them captured (particularly at Robert Kennedy's shooting).
From historic conversations with her I know that she somehow associated the death of both John F K and Robert with my father's betrayal and then leaving her around the same time - there are/were a series of drawings of the violence of the moment, the head being held once both men had been shot and had fallen and also the grief of those (particularly) the women left behind - so I think we can say that she probably saw herself as the grieving widow/rather than the woman that had been left (for another woman). Personally I'd say that my mother was drawn to the handsome matinee idol-ness of both Kennedy men and almost liked the (almost Greek) tragedy and drama of their public deaths.
She painted both Jackie O and Ethel Kennedy at the scene of the crimes, and Grief is part of that series - a woman left behind, women grieving, she shock of the violence and her grieving. And it also has her signature element of someone behind (perhaps mum herself) watching on.".