A painted scene depicting the moments before harpooning a Right whale spouting a large stream of water. Five men are in the whaleboat closest to the whale. The first man stands posed to strike the harpoon into the whale's head. The crewman farthers from the whale also stands reaching his out his right hand while holding a oar in his left hand. The three men between the two standing men sit ready to row. In the distance are two whaling vessels and other whaleboats. The waves in the foreground are in motion and rough, and birds fly closely to the surfaced whale.
