Van der Schalcke spent his entire working life in Haarlem and this panoramic landscape is probably based on the coastal sand dunes to the west of the town. These dunes were popular with rabbit hunters, two of whom are resting in the foreground with their dogs.
In the past the painting has been attributed to Philips Koninck and subsequently to Jacob Koninck. It is, however, by the same hand as a picture signed by van der Schalcke which was probably painted in 1659 (formerly Vienna, A. Singer collection). The National Gallery's painting should be dated at about the same time.
