Hellesen was a Norwegian painter and graphic artist, whose work is associated with the Orphic Cubism movement. In 1912 he moved to Paris, where he worked with Fernand Léger and became acquainted with Picasso. He used geometric forms, abstract compositions, and vibrant landscapes, blending both the figurative and the abstract. Influenced by movements like Art Deco and the early stages of abstraction, Hellesen sought to express a sense of rhythm and harmony through his distinctive style.