This is a fascinating seascape with a genre painting representational approach, enriched with Volanakis’ favourite individual thematic references. Here, as in many of his works, he incorporates small illustrations around the main theme to complete the narrative composition. For example, we mention the characteristic image of a large two-masted sailboat with all its sails open, fading away on the distant horizon.

The composition is divided into two distinct horizontal parts by a wide band of light that theoretically separates the sky from the sea. The atmosphere is serene and a dead calm reigns over the sea, as betrayed by its tranquil waters. At various points in the painting, small and large sailboats are sailing tilted in various directions, while a fishing scene with nets is described in detail in the centre, in the foreground. The fishing sailboat is depicted in its entirety, with a fisherman standing on the deck, holding a trident, and three other fishermen bending over to pull in the nets, as a boat with a rower appears behind them.