Berend Groeneveld was originally a trader in butter and cheese, who retired from the business around his forties to start painting. He went to live in Amsterdam, where he was taught by Martin Monnickendam. He then spent many summers in Paris. Through a mutual friend, Simon Maris, he came into contact with Piet Mondrian, from whom he received painting lessons in the 1930s. Mondrian painted for him the 'Landscape on the Seine', one of his two French landscapes.