Émile Eisman-Semenowsky was born in 1859 in Poland. He studied art outside Poland and in the early 1880's moved to Paris where he became an assistant to the Belgian artist Jan Van Beers (1852-1927). Under Van Beers he started to produce portraits mostly of fashionable women, later specialising in romantic Oriental style portraits aimed at the Parisian middle class. He also painted genre and historical scenes.

He exhibited at the Royal Academy with works entitled 'Spring-Time' and 'After the Dance'. His works are highly popular and can be found in private and public art collections including the Manchester City Gallery.