The three women are crossing the river; the central lady wears a long-sleeved kimono, and the two servants are holding her sleeves. The flower in the background is Yamabuki (Japanese Kerria), which blooms in late spring.

The two colors applied to express the water movement, white created by embossing technique and black, are very efficient showing the mild stream in late spring.

The poem in the cartouche is by Fujiwara no Toshinari and is read "Koma tomete Naho Mizu kahamu Yamabuki no Hana no Tsuyu sou Ide no Tamagawa 駒とめて　なほ水かはむ　山吹の　花の露添う　井出の玉川" It describes the scene of stopping a horse to let it drink the water of Tama river, surrounded by Yamabuki flowers.