Cornelis Dusart was born on 24 April 1660 in Haarlem. He joined the Lukasgilde (guild for painters) in 1679, and died on 1 October 1704, in Haarlem. He was a student of Adriaen van Ostade. Many of his pictures feature pub scenes and cariacatures of rural festivals.

Dusart was one of Holland's most dedicated painters of raucous tavern scenes. The Latin inscriptions on many of his prints indicates that they were intended for an educated audience.

"We Are Seven" is a bit of sly humor: there are only 6 figures depicted in the scene, implying the viewer possibly fits right in with this crowd.