Hugo Gehlin began studying art at the same time as modernism completely transformed the art world in the early 1900s. He traveled on study trips in Europe and embraced the new winds that were blowing. Like many of his contemporaries, he worked in various fields such as woodcut graphics, sculpture, illustration, poetry, and design in pewter and glass. After marrying Esther, the artist couple settled in Helsingborg, and their home became a meeting place for artists and cultural figures for many years, playing a significant role in the city's modern art scene.