“The Young Schjerfbeck” tells about ten years (1880-1890) in the life of the artist Helene Schjerfbeck. These are years she spent in France and England. These are years during which she assembles an intellectual heritage for life. The film follows her track to the artist colonies in France and England. The story begins as Helene Schjerfbeck arrives in Gare du Nord 1880. She is 18 years old and has earned a stipend from the Senate to study art in Paris.

Helene Schjerfbeck (1862-1946) is one of the greatest artists in Finland and a predecessor of modernism.