This painting shows a seascape with large sailing ships and smaller vessels. To the right of center is a large ship with several tall masts and many billowing white sails. The body of the ship is black, and a long point extends out from its front. Silhouettes of small people are visible across the large deck. Another large vessel is visible on the far left, while three smaller boats with fewer sails can be seen to the left of center and on the far right. The ships all fly flags, including red flags, blue flags, and red-and-white striped flags with sections of blue in the top left corners. The wavy sea below the boats is gray, with a darker section towards the bottom of the painting and a lighter section towards the horizon. A small wooden barrel floats in the sea towards the bottom of the painting. The sky is light blue, and puffy, pale pink clouds drift across it. Beyond the ships, a distant shore is visible, dotted with more white sails, gray smokestacks, and dark gray buildings.