A resembling “Pan og Hyrdedrengen” from the artist's hand was exhibited at Charlottenborg, Foraarsudstillingen, 1908 no. 660.

Elna Steen-Hertel was educated from Tegne- og Kunstindustriskolen for Kvindelige Kunstnere (the Drawing and Art School for Women Artists) and from 1894 to 1899 at the Art Academy, where she was a student of August Saabye. Later on, she continued her education at Colarossi in Paris. She received several scholarships and awards and from 1900 and onwards she traveled extensively to Germany, Italy, London, Latvia, Russia, North and South Africa and several times to Paris.

Steen-Hertel exhibited frequently at Charlottenborg, K. E., Kunstnerforeningen af 18. Nov (the Artists Association of November 18th) and at Kvindelige Kunstneres Retrospektive udstilling (Female Artist's Retropective Exhibition) in 1920 as well as internationally in cities such as London, Brighton and Stuttgart.

Not only was she active artistically, she was also active politically as she ran for the the Copenhagen City Council in 1917 as a member of the party Radikale Venstre.