From the Painting Guide: Take another look at the river, which seems to be passing over the top of a hill. This has partially to do with the back of the grassland appearing as a ridge, rather than fading into the background. The river does rather evenly divide the painting; hold a piece of paper up to crop either the left or right edge and see how this changes the feel. Also compare the two banks of the river; the sharp linear edge of the right-hand bank somewhat disconnects the bank from the river itself. The ethereal blue and purple colouring gives a lovely sense of mystical moonlight. The heavy shading in the corners of the painting (which may simply be the way it was photographed) make it almost look like it's viewed through a nightsight, missing only the cross-hairs in the centre.