The artwork depicts a scene at water level featuring a large steamboat in the center. The horizon is low in the image, above the base of the steamboat. The sky is expansive with swirling clouds. Fine etching lines are used for texture, seen in the smoke and water ripples. The color scheme is sepia and black. Smaller sail vessels are scattered across the water, diminishing in size towards the distant horizon where water and sky merge. The detailed rendering and soft tones convey a serene maritime setting.