Cika wannan jumla: Mahaifinsa, Gustaf, kwamishina ne a ofishin binciken kasa na Sweden. Ya yi karatun zane-zane a Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts daga 1891 zuwa 1896 yayin da kuma ya dauki darussan a makarantar. Abin da zai zama babban mahimmanci a cikin aikinsa na gaba shi ne ziyarar da ya yi a Dalarna a 1894. An kama shi da al'adun gargajiya a can kuma ya zauna a ƙauyen Ullvi, kusa da Leksand, a 1897; yana yin ado da gonarsa da kayan ɗaki da kayan aikin hannu. Wani zane da ya yi a wancan lokacin ("Wake in Leksand") an nuna shi cikin nasara a
Babban Nunin Fasaha da Masana'antu na Stockholm. Wannan ya biyo bayan tafiye-tafiye na dogon lokaci zuwa Faransa, Jamus da Low Countries daga 1898 zuwa 1901.