Boats in an Upcoming Storm with the Church of Zandvoort

This painting captures the dramatic atmosphere of an impending storm at sea, with boats struggling against turbulent waves. A large sailing vessel (a wijdschip in Dutch) is being driven against the line of wooden stakes emerging from the sea. People on the shore pull on ropes in an attempt to steady the boat, while other small crafts approach to assist the distressed passengers. The church spire, depicted hazily beyond the sand dunes on the horizon, serves as a beacon of hope and a symbol of this community’s resilience in the face of nature’s fury. It is perhaps the Reformed church of the coastal town of Zandvoort in the Netherlands. Despite its wild waves and stormy subject matter, this scene has been carefully painted by the artist, with a highly polished finish. A carefully restricted colour palette comprising of tones of grey unites the composition – from the translucent water to the billowing grey clouds – punctuated by muted reds, blues and yellows. The signature of Ludolf Bakhuizen (1630/1-1708) is found on the stern of the small boat which carries the standing figure in blue, while the painting’s date is inscribed on the nearby wooden plank which sinks beneath the swell.

Born in Emden, Germany, Bakhuizen moved to Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in his early twenties, where he would spend most of his career. Amsterdam was a bustling hub of trade and naval activity during the seventeenth century. Bakhuizen’s paintings typically depict ships at sea, naval battles, coastal scenes and seascapes. He had a remarkable ability to capture the dynamic movement of rough water, the play of light on waves and the atmospheric effects of changing weather conditions. His works often coveys a sense of drama and excitement, as well as a profound respect for the power and majesty of the sea.