The academy-trained painter Vilko Šeferov enrolled at the Art School in Belgrade in 1912 taking up the study program under professor Vladimir Becić. His schooling continued at the Academy in Budapest from 1912 to 1918 under professors Zempleny and Rethy, where he graduated. After his studies, Šeferov returned to Sarajevo. In 1920, he and painters Vladimir Becić and Karlo Mijić stayed in the hills above Blažuj painting landscapes. He developed from Cézanne's poetics of form to strong expressive colorism. From 1924, living in the circle of Zagreb's advanced artists and writers, he was oriented towards social issues. In that period, he used analytical realism to portray people from public life and the leftist movement. From 1925 onwards, Šeferov lived in Zagreb and stayed on the island of Korčula, in Dubrovnik, as well as briefly in Paris, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. In 1952 and 1953, he stayed in Rovinj and was one of the founders of the Rovinj Art Colony. Before II. World War, he painted landscapes of Dalmatia and Zagreb, and portraits in a post-impressionist manner, and over time his landscape paintings acquired an expressionistic ferocity. The experiences he gained during his travels in the USA and Egypt had a great influence on his creativity.