Tall, dark cattail stalks and brown spikes cross the whole width in an edge-to-edge close-up of an autumn marsh. There is no horizon and no single focal point. A large pale lily pad sits just below center, yellow pond lily blossoms are scattered through the middle, and a few red-orange touches glow among them. Lavender flower spikes, olive seed pods and closed white-green buds weave between the reeds.

The light is soft, dim and even, so depth comes from overlapping dark and light shapes rather than shadow. Forms are simplified and blocky with soft outlines, in a chalky, sun-faded palette of umber, rust, sage and lavender. Thick, buttery impasto leaves visible ridges, swirling strokes in the lily pad and tiny dark dabs for seed specks, while the canvas weave shows through thin areas. The flattened, decorative arrangement recalls early Canadian modernist oil sketches.