The composition utilizes a wide landscape orientation to emphasize the horizontal stretch of the Elbe River, allowing the water to occupy the lower register of the frame. This placement creates a sense of stillness, where the ripples on the surface catch the fading light, grounding the ornate spires and domes of the city skyline against a deepening sky.

By focusing on the twilight hour, the artist highlights the interplay between shadow and the lingering glow of the horizon. The structural details of the bridges and embankments become rhythmic elements that guide the eye across the river, celebrating the specific atmospheric weight and hushed mood of a city winding down for the night.