Steenwyck was born in Delft, c. 1615. He was the brother of Harmen Steenwijck, also a still-life painter.[1] His father was Evert Hamenz who was an eyeglass maker.[2] He and his brother were taught to paint by their uncle David Bailly in Leiden. Baily is credited with inventing the vanitas genre and he influenced Steenwyck to paint in the vanitas genre.[1]