The artwork depicts a serene, classical scene featuring a group of nine women in flowing, draped robes of muted blue and terracotta red. They are clustered around the edge of a shallow, reflective pool of water, gazing intently at their own mirrored images. One figure stands tall and draped in a vibrant periwinkle gown on the left, while the others are captured in various kneeling or stooping positions, creating a rhythmic, cascading composition across the foreground.
The setting is a vast, desolate, and arid landscape that stretches back toward barren, rolling hills under a pale, hazy sky. The environment is sparsely vegetated, with the pool acting as the singular point of vivid color and liquid depth. The composition focuses on the contrast between the stillness of the women and the gentle ripples in the water, which distort their reflections into soft, elongated shapes.
Executed in the Pre-Raphaelite style, the painting uses a palette of earthy ochres, dusty browns, and cool, saturated blues. The lighting is soft and diffuse, typical of an overcast day, which minimizes harsh shadows and creates a melancholic, ethereal mood. The figures are idealized with delicate facial features and long, flowing hair, consistent with the late 19th-century romantic aesthetic of the period.