A man, appearing despondent and lost in thought, reclines on a dimly lit, narrow bed draped with a coarse blanket. His loose white shirt contrasts with the muted ochre and brown tones enveloping the room, lending a soft light to his weary face and bare feet. Nearby, scattered papers lie on the dark floor, suggesting restless creativity or unfinished business. Behind him, a greenish curtain partially obscures the shadowy interior, while to the left, two figures peer through barred windows with haunting expressions, their presence evoking a sense of confinement and observation.

The artist’s brushwork is loose yet deliberate, blending the warm, earthy palette with subtle highlights that draw the viewer’s eye to the seated figure's hollow gaze. This composition powerfully captures a moment of isolation and mental turmoil, framed within the stark, austere surroundings of a madhouse. The painting reverberates with emotional depth and historical poignancy, confronting themes of genius, madness, and solitude in a 19th-century context. The chiaroscuro effect amplifies the psychological drama, as light and shadow fight for dominance within the confined space.