From 1893 to 1901, Emil Beithan belonged to the Städel School under Heinrich Hasselhorst, Wilhelm Trübner, and Amandus Beer. From 1901 to 1903 he had sojourns in Munich, Berlin, and Kassel; from 1903 to 1905, he lived in Frankfurt am Main, and from 1905 to 1915 in the Schwalm (Willingshausen and Schrecksbach). From 1916 to 1946, he was back in Buchschlag, near Frankfurt am Main.