A wintry rural landscape with a frozen lake to the left and a grassy bank to the right. On the right, several men push along a sledge carrying people, which is being pulled by a horse onto the lake. Behind them a single figure, on the far right, is huddled beneath two gnarled bare trees. To the left, in the foreground, on the ice, a man pulls a tree trunk along the ground. To his left two figures sit on the edge of a stranded rowing boat, two more skate past on the far left, one carrying a pike-like object. Beyond, a large tent has been erected on the ice, around which people are gathered with sledges and horses. A steeple is visible far off in the distance in the centre, with a windmill to the right. The sky is full of heavy grey clouds with light breaking through in several parts, the whole scene predominantly painted in browns and greys.