A weathered fisherman sits in the prow of a wooden boat, his body turned slightly toward the viewer as sunlight pours over his shoulder. He wears a broad-brimmed, floppy hat that casts a deep shadow across his lined face, leaving only hints of his expression visible beneath the brim. His shirt, loose and pale yellow, is rendered with thick, textured brushstrokes that catch the light, especially along the folds of his sleeves and chest.

One hand grips the edge of the boat, fingers splayed and knuckles prominent, while the other rests loosely on his knee, suggesting a moment of rest or contemplation. The old man’s trousers are painted in cool blue and grey tones, their creases and shadows contrasting with the warmth of his shirt and the sunlit wood around him. Behind him, the interior of the boat is sketched with broad, confident strokes, the green and brown planks curving around his figure and framing him within the vessel.

The sky is a pale, almost bleached blue, painted with soft, swirling strokes that evoke the heat and glare of midday. The composition places the fisherman at the center, his form dominating the foreground while the boat’s structure and the distant landscape create a sense of depth and openness. Sunlight strikes the man’s left arm and shoulder, creating sharp contrasts between illuminated flesh and the deep shadows that fall across his face and torso.

The paint is applied with visible energy, especially in the highlights on the hat and shirt, where thick dabs and sweeps of color suggest both texture and movement. Small details, such as the uneven edge of the boat’s planks and the roughness of the wood, are picked out with quick, expressive marks. The title, Viejo pescador en una barca, identifies the subject as an old fisherman, and the artist as Joaquín Sorolla.