The three-horse-drawn carriage rumbles along on the street in the steady rain. The freight is protected by a tarpaulin, tied in an arch across the carriage with its remarkably large rear-wheels. The coachman, with whip in hand, wearing a long coat and cap, turns his back to the rain. The light from the carriage lamp is reflected in the wet, slippery road, which is lined by lampposts and trees. A covered cab has passed and disappears out of the picture, to the right, while a woman in a long skirt tries to manoeuvre her umbrella. Buildings appear in the background under the darkening sky. Brown leaves are scattered on the ground. This everyday scene is depicted with impressionistic brush strokes which accentuate the movement and drama in the picture: the blurriness, the horses’ warm breath, the rain lashing against the trees, the reflections on the wet ground. Nils Kreuger arrived in Paris in 1881, where he made this painting. He liked to paint motifs in mist, rain or snow and was a master of impressionistic effects.
