Strings of round, golden bulbs swing across a gray-blue winter dusk. They link the bare trees and trace the rooflines of the stone cottages, and a church tower stands in the middle distance. Snow falls through the air and lies in thick ridges along the bank.

A handful of dark figures skate over the glossy ice, which holds the lamplight in soft reflections. The paint is thick and textured, with a fine web of cracks across the surface. The cool slate palette makes the small points of warm light stand out.