Birolla attended the academy in Vienna and helped to found the art club Vesna. After the completion of his studies he lived in Škofja Loka for some time and socialized with Ivan Grohar there. He interrupted his artistic career in 1917 when he took over the family enterprise. He returned to art only after the Second World War. His goal was to elicit emotional attitude towards Slovenian identity with his works. By means of tectonic composition and restless Art Nouveau strokes, Birolla brought his scenes, inspired by folk customs and traditions, rural life and literature, close to a fantasy world.