Thanks to financial support from Karl Nordström, he was able to begin studies at the Artist's Association School (Konstnärförbundets skola), from 1907 to 1908, then went to Paris, where he took lessons from Henri Matisse. He remained there until 1912. Back in Sweden, he was one of the first members of a short-lived group called "" (The Young), which applied Expressionist techniques to Swedish motifs. In 1914, he had a successful showing at the Baltic Exhibition.
