Seascape in Heavy Weather in Zeeland by Cornelis Mahu circa 1650

Seascape in Heavy Weather in Zeeland, oil on wood panel (Antwerp mark), dimensions 42 cm x 54.5 cm, with frame 58 cm x 70 cm, by Cornelis Mahu (1613–1689), monogrammed.
The composition depicts a highly turbulent sea with short, choppy waves, typical of the 17th-century Flemish tradition.
In the center stands a steep rocky outcrop battered by sea spray, while small boats struggle against the swell.
The sky, heavy with dark, torn clouds, allows patches of light to filter through, shaping the crests of the waves and emphasizing the dramatic tension of the scene.
Cornelis Mahu, who was active in Antwerp, was a versatile painter of seascapes, genre scenes, still lifes, and church interiors.
Due to its atmospheric treatment, the vigorous modeling of the waves, the presence of the monumental rock, the cool and contrasting palette, and the style of the monogram, this painting belongs to the artist’s most accomplished period, around 1645–1660, when he adopted a freer brushwork and more contrasting lighting.
Compare it to the painting *Stormy Sea* at the Hermitage Museum.