To provide an electron emission element capable of uniformly emitting an electron beam and easy to manufacture in processes, to provide a manufacturing method thereof, to provide an electron source using the electron emission device, and to provide an image display using the electron source, having improved high-definition image quality.

The electron emission element manufacturing method includes a process of forming an electron emission film, a process of forming a first layer 103 having insulating or semi-conductive property on a substrate and a process of forming a second layer 104 mainly containing carbon on the first layer 103.