Snow drifts down over a busy waterfront. Tall wooden masts rise from moored sailboats on the left, and a row of red, ochre, blue and orange townhouses with snow-dusted roofs lines the far bank. Along the quay, people in winter coats stroll beneath cream market canopies glowing with warm light, and one of them carries an umbrella.

The dark canal in the foreground breaks up the lamplight and the building colors into streaks of amber and rust. The palette is warm against the pale, hazy sky. Loose, textured brushwork gives the scene a cheerful, festive feel and keeps the cold from feeling bleak.