This scene of fishing with nets unfolds at dawn, in an atmosphere of absolute silence, on a dead calm sea. On the left, in the open sea, a large sailboat can be seen drifting with open sails. In the centre, an islet with a lighthouse is pictured in the background, while the main subject is depicted in full detail in the foreground. On the deck of a one-masted sailboat, two fishermen are bringing in the nets that are spread out in the sea, as suggested by the bobbers floating on the surface. Another young fisherman beside them is sitting on the edge of the boat with his legs out, helping them.

The composition is perfectly balanced and every detail is accurately depicted. The harmony of colours is impressive, selectively disrupted by the dark-toned reflections of the shadows.

The pictorial reference of a lone sailboat in the open sea with its sails unfurled, disappearing on the horizon line, is repeated often in Volanakis’ works, for example: “Fishing in calm waters”, “Vessels by moonlight”, “Collecting the nets”, “Fishing boats”, etc.