Nicolaes Pietersz Berchem was born in Haarlem in either 1621 or 1622. His father was the still-life painter Pieter Claesz. Having first learnt to paint from his father, Berchem continued his training with Jan van Goyen. Following this he became an apprentice to Claes Moeyaert (1590/91–1655), who worked in Amsterdam as a history painter, mainly concentrating on Old Testament motifs in Arcadian landscapes with animals. Berchem soon made a name for himself as an engraver. His prints, issued in large numbers, were widely distributed by the leading publishers and booksellers in Haarlem and Amsterdam.