This work depicts an impressive sunset rendered in intense, high-contrast colours. Dominating the scene is the large, brightly glowing disc of the sun, positioned just above the horizon and bathing the entire sky in powerful reds, oranges and yellows. The rays spread in a semicircular motion, creating a rhythmic pattern of concentric arcs of colour that make the sky seem to shimmer. The sky is characterised by strong colour contrasts: warm red and orange stand in direct tension with the green and dark areas that dynamically break up the colour fields. These complementary contrasts lend the painting tremendous energy and give the sunset an expressionist drama.
The water surface in the foreground reflects the radiant sun in vibrating yellows and reds. The bold, impasto brushstrokes create a lively surface that conveys the impression of glowing, living water. The landscape on the horizon is merely suggested in dark silhouettes and serves above all as a calm base for the impressive play of colour in the sky.
As in Evard’s other sunset depictions, his interest in varying a motif to achieve different moods and colour effects is evident here. While Monet studied his cathedral under changing light conditions, Evard uses the sunset as a field of experimentation for expressive explosions of colour.