A calm, mirror-still pond fills the lower half of the picture, reflecting the fall foliage of the trees on both banks. In the middle distance, a soft haze blurs the horizon and fades the farthest trees into the sky.

Diffused golden-hour light glows through the mist with no harsh shadows. Thick impasto and palette-knife strokes build the foliage in expressive dabs over visible canvas grain, in amber, burnt sienna and warm taupe with touches of dusty lavender.