Nielsen was born in 1886 in Copenhagen. Growing up, his parents were actively involved in the theater community, exposing Nielsen to a variety of famous figures such as Ibsen and Grieg. Despite his initial plan to move to Paris, at the age of seventeen he moved to Paris where he studied art for about ten years. Throughout his career, he was commissioned to paint various illustrations, such as “East of the Sun and West of the Moon” and Grimm brothers anthologies. During the time between the first and second World Wars, he worked in set design for the Copenhagen Royal Theater. His style was influenced by British artist Aubrey Beardsley, the Art Nouveau style, and Japanese woodcuts. His illustrations consisted of light pastel color palettes, flat perspectives, and “graceful line work” in “vast, arctic terrains”.
