This evocative painting captures a quietly intimate scene of a woman reclined on an elegant, pale blue settee, her posture relaxed yet imbued with a sense of introspection. The subtle, impressionistic brushstrokes create a soft texture in the upholstery and fabric folds, inviting us to feel the delicate comfort of the cushions and the heaviness of the woman's layered olive-green skirt. Her attention is wholly absorbed by the letter she holds aloft, a moment suspended in time where private thoughts and emotions presumably flutter like the paper in her hand. The muted palette—primarily soft blues, earthy greens, and warm grays—contributes a contemplative, almost whispers-of-melancholy atmosphere, suggesting a story untold, hovering between anticipation and reminiscence.

The composition is masterful in its balance, the figure centralized but leaning naturally, creating dynamic diagonals that carry the eye fluidly across the canvas—from the distant dark wooden chair on the left, through the woman’s thoughtful expression, to the crumpled letter lying quietly on the floor. A sense of stillness permeates, yet the scene hums with quiet narrative tension. The delicate, loose brushwork, typical of late 19th-century French impressionism, lends a softness that contrasts with the sharp lines of the letter and the woman's poised yet languid demeanor. This painting invites us to ponder the emotional weight of correspondence in an era when letters were vital carriers of intimate connection and personal history.