A calm stretch of water runs down the centre of the scene toward a hazy vanishing point, with tall, dense autumn trees on both banks arching inward to frame it. Golden, rust and olive foliage lines the shore, and misty hills fade into pale light at the horizon. A small wooden rowboat carrying two softly silhouetted figures drifts near the lower-left shoreline, while a loose V of birds crosses the pale sky above the treeline.

A soft, diffused low-angle glow, dawn or dusk, rises from the mist. It warms the rippling reflections on the water and leaves the foreground trees in dark silhouette. Smooth, blended brushwork in the sky and water contrasts with thicker strokes in the foliage, and the canvas grain shows throughout. The mood is tranquil and nostalgic, with a touch of melancholy.