Edmond is the second son of the silk merchant Antoine Tapissier and Benoite-Angélique Towex-Comte. Antoine Tapissier who stayed widower put his sons in the Collège des Chartreux in Lyon.
In 1879, Edmond is 18 years old, he’s an elegant and cultured young man who is seeking for his path. He starts by following classes with the painter Chatigny who was the student of Picot and Chenavard. Chatigny knew Ingres, and was friend with Henner, Bertrand, Courbet and Manet.

During Summer 1893, Tapissier leaves for the Midi region and makes there the studies of his paintings Sapho, Les jeunes filles de Lesbos and Les Sirènes. It’s thanks to this last painting that Tapissier knows the true success in the Salon des Artistes français in 1896. In this period was also made Le songe d’une nuit d’été.

In 1919, he brings from his travels with Charles Fouqueray and Auguste Matisse in Italy, Greece and Middle East some watercolors that show his new inspirations. The style of these painters is a mix between the solidity of the classic disposition and the Impressionist freedom. At the same time he creates many cartons of an extraordinary quality to be weave in the Gobelins, Aubusson, and Beauvais such as La Fontaine de Jouvence, important tapestry project for the Gobelins.

En 1932, a lieu une grande exposition de ses tableaux à la Galerie Ecalle, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. Les critiques sont très bonnes ; « C’est la lumière et ses vibrations que s’appliquent à traduire Monsieur Tapissier. » Tapissier regarde la nature avec des yeux d’impressionniste. Certes, il n’a pas oublié les leçons de l’École, il en a retenu d’habiles méthodes et mises en pages mais son interprétation n’en demeure pas moins fort libre et : « certaines de ses toiles où rayonne ardemment le soleil, sont de séduisantes réussites. » In 1932, took place an important exhibition of his paintings in the Galerie Ecalle, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. The critics are very good; « It’s the light and its vibrations that the Mister Tapissier takes care to translate.” Tapissier watches nature with Impressionist eyes. Of course, he did not forget the lessons of the École des Beaux-Arts, he has retained the methods and settings but his interpretation is still very free and « some of his paintings where the sun is fervently shining, are some seducing achievements.”

Excerpt from Edmond Tapissier’s diary where he explains from where comes his inspiration: « Still quite in a bad way, I don’t know who advised me to go the Midi region in Carqueiranne. He knew the place, quiet, not crowded, ideal stay for a painter. I went there with my color box and some canvas and find myself good. A small inn next to the sea. I ate there especially meals from the region, grilled fish, bouillabaisse, zucchini and eggplants. The small boats bring the fish in front of the inn and we could choose. I woke up early and painted some sea corners with maritime pines, very worked studies. Lunch at noon and nap until 4am. The active life restarts. I went back to my pines, I worked quite late next to the sea on a small terrace, from where we could see the sunset. One evening, the sea was pink-gold, some more or less naked children played on the bank. Their small bodies and the pines branches to which they were mixed detached on the water brilliant of bright colors. I drew everything on a small canvas with some colors touches and here comes the origin of the painting « Les sirènes ». I had finally find a personal note ».

Les Sirènes were a success in the 1896 Salon. But the painting did not received only praises, which testify that the artist has find a personal note, a style in which, for the first time, are underlined the characteristics of his talent: precision of the drawing, idealization of the shapes, brightness of the colors daringly put together and taste for the large composition. If the purity of the three naked women reminds a little of Puvis de Chavanne’s drawing style, we have to note that the heat of these golden bodies is no where to be find in the work of the latter.