The 17th-century painter Frans de Hulst lived and worked in Haarlem, where he became a member of the Guild of Saint Luke in 1631. Ten years later he became secretary of the guild. These forties were the peak years in his career: most of the paintings were created during this period. Frans de Hulst is best known for his landscapes with dunes and river views with a castle, fortress or tower. These show a relationship with the landscapes of Jan van Goyen and Salomon van Ruysdael. Given his technique, it is thought that De Hulst might have been a student of the latter painter, but there is no certainty about this.