A figure in a bright red cap stands at the center of the shore, gathering a large, billowing white sail into his arms. He wears a brown garment that contrasts with the cool blues of the sea and the pale, luminous cloth he holds. The sail stretches diagonally across the foreground, its folds rendered in loose, sweeping brushstrokes of white and pale blue, suggesting both weight and movement.

The hull of the boat curves into the composition from the far right, its dark mass anchoring that side of the painting. Above, the sky is a narrow band of muted ochre and blue, suggesting the low light of early morning or late afternoon. The artist uses thick, visible brushstrokes throughout, especially in the sand and water, where the paint is laid on in broad, energetic sweeps.

Every part of the scene is unified by the play of sunlight, which heightens the contrasts between the glowing sail, the warm earth, and the deep sea. The sand in the lower left corner is painted with rapid, broad strokes of ochre, mauve, and blue, creating a patchwork of color and texture. Light strikes the upper part of the central figure’s face and hands, casting sharp shadows beneath his hat and along his arms.

The sea forms a deep, horizontal band of blue across the upper third of the canvas, with a few short white brushstrokes indicating small waves near the shore. A faint, warm glow appears along the horizon, where the sky meets the water, blending ochre and pink tones. The sail’s lower edge spills out of the frame at the bottom left, its contours defined by loose, gestural lines and streaks of blue and grey.