In 1880, Emmanuel de La Villéon went to Paris to study at the Académie Julian under Roll and Damage. He lived in Brittany, Switzerland and Paris, where he found the themes for his landscapes.

In 1884, he started to paint from life, making the leap to Impressionism around 1890. He also illustrated legends and tales from Brittany. His work is characterised by its luminous shades.

He made his debut at the Salon des Indépendants in 1888 and from 1890 exhibited at the Salon de la Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts, of which he was an associate member from 1908; he also showed at the Salon d’Automne from 1903.