In 1863, due perhaps to his family's reputation, he was able to travel to Armenia and Georgia on a commission from the Société de Géographie.[2] In addition to touring the monuments, he visited the Laz, gaining their trust and producing drawings and descriptions that were published in Le Tour du Monde - Nouveau Journal Des Voyages over the course of several years beginning in 1869. Some of his artist friends at Concarneau also published their versions of his drawings.
In 1871, he and Guillou left for Concarneau, Alfred's hometown, with nothing more than they could carry. The next year, he married Alfred's sister, Suzanne (1846-1933), who was also an artist, becoming a Breton by adoption.[3][4] Together, they founded the artists' colony there.
Once he became settled there. he began work for HB de Quimper, decorating plates and vases with Japanese motifs. He was also attracted to the life of the port and the maritime trades and became a part-time fishmonger.[1] Most of his paintings deal with the life of the harbor. Many inns and hotels in the area are decorated with his landscapes and pastoral scenes.
Yvon Le Floch, Catalogue de la fête des Filets bleus (Catalog of the Festival of the Blue Nets, a Breton folk festival that includes art displays), 1992
