A muscular, goat-legged figure with pointed ears emerges from tall reeds on the left, reaching toward a startled woman who twists away from him at the water’s edge. The woman, her body illuminated by a strong, clear light, glances back anxiously over her shoulder while clutching a sheer white cloth and a vivid red drapery that slips from her arm. Her pale skin stands out against the dense, green foliage that fills the scene, while yellow irises and clusters of wildflowers punctuate the marshy ground at her feet.

Water lilies float on the surface of a dark pond in the foreground, and a group of ducks takes flight from the right, disturbed by the sudden movement. The background opens to a distant, sunlit glade, framed by more reeds and trees, with the sky painted in soft blue and grey tones above. Fine brushwork describes the texture of the grasses and the delicate petals of the flowers, while broader, more energetic strokes model the flesh of both figures.

The composition draws the viewer’s attention to the dramatic encounter at the center, with the figures’ gestures and gazes creating a sense of tension and urgency. Every detail, from the rippling water to the fur on the satyr’s legs, is rendered with careful attention, contributing to the vivid naturalism of the scene. Several ducks remain in the shallow water at the right, some swimming and others partially hidden by reeds.

The light falls most strongly on the woman’s upper body and face, leaving the satyr’s features and the left edge of the scene in deeper shadow. Delicate purple flowers rise above the reeds near the top left edge, adding subtle color variation to the dense greenery. The sky in the upper right corner transitions from pale blue to soft grey, with loose brushwork suggesting clouds and atmospheric depth.