A male mallard sweeps across the frame with wings raised, low over a calm, glassy pond. Behind him, a band of golden marsh grass and a dusty treeline in russet and sage recede into a hazy distance.

The light is soft and late-afternoon, warming the clouds with cream and blush and leaving pale reflections on the water. Loose, buttery oil strokes and a visible linen weave give it the quiet feel of a plein-air coastal study.