Born in northern France, Labisse’s family moved to Flanders after the First World War. Although he was predestined for a career as a sailor, he turned to painting in 1924 and a few years later opened a painting gallery in Ostend.
His first contacts with Magritte date back to the late 1930s. He took part in the Surréalisme exhibition organised by the Editions de la Boétie gallery at the end of 1945, alongside Magritte, Sanders, Wergifosse and Bury.
Although Labisse only visited rue Esseghem on rare occasions, his relations with Magritte were very cordial. For example, Labisse organised a cocktail party at his home in Paris in honour of the opening of Magritte’s exhibition at the Galerie du Faubourg, which featured paintings from his “cow period”.