She was born as Wendla Irene Soldan. Her father, was the Director of the Mint of Finland. Her mother, Marie Müller (1837–1927), was German. Swedish was spoken at home. Her desire to become an artist received her family's wholehearted support.Riitta Konttinen s. 18–19 From 1880 to 1884, she initially attended the drawing school of the Finnish Art Association (now the Academy of Fine Arts), but also studied privately with Maria Wiik and attended classes in St.Petersburg from 1883 to 1885. She was briefly a student at the Académie Colarossi in Paris on two occasions. She also made study trips to Spain and Italy with the money she earned copying old classics. Upon returning to Helsinki, she became an art teacher.
