Jean Emile-Laboureur was born in Nantes, France in 1877. He arrived in Paris in 1895 and was captivated by the Academie Julian and quickly immersed himself in the art scene. He soon met prominent wood engraver Auguste Lepere who taught him the techniques of printmaking. It was artists such as Toulouse-Lautrec, Odilon Redon, Bonnard, and Felix Vallotton, however, who influenced Laboureur's aesthetic.

After a period of travel between 1899 -1910, Laboureur returned to Paris. At this time Cubism was being introduced in the works of Picasso and Braque.  Incorporating this geometric sensibility of the Cubists into his compositions Laboureur was able to develop a decorative style distinctly his own.