A broad expanse of sea fills the lower half of Shadows on the Sea. The Cliffs at Pourville, its surface animated by short, curved strokes of blue, green, and yellow paint that suggest the play of sunlight and shadow across gentle waves. Near the bottom edge, the brushwork grows denser and darker, forming a patch of deep blue shadows that ripple across the water, while lighter, yellowish tones glimmer in the foreground, hinting at the shallowness near the shore.

The coastline rises on the right, where a rugged cliff juts out into the sea, rendered in vertical dabs and streaks of blue, green, and ochre, capturing the rocky face and grassy slopes of Pourville. The sky occupies nearly two thirds of the composition, painted in a delicate blend of lavender, pink, and blue, with loose, horizontal strokes that evoke a hazy, luminous atmosphere. The horizon is set high, emphasizing the vastness of the sea and sky, while the cliffs anchor the scene to a specific place named in the title.

The paint is applied with visible, energetic brushwork throughout, leaving the surface textured and lively, especially where the sea meets the land. The left edge of the painting is dominated by open sea, with no land or structures interrupting the expanse of water and sky. The upper left and right corners of the canvas are filled with pale, wispy clouds, rendered in soft, horizontal strokes that blend into the blue and pink of the sky.

The paint is applied in broken, visible lines and dabs, especially in the foreground water, where the brushstrokes create a rhythmic, almost mosaic-like surface texture.