This Staithes painting revolves around the footbridge over the Beck and in particular, the upright form of its nearside buttress. A bright and briskly sunny day enhanced the shadows and highlighted the roughly textured courses of masonry and cobbles. This swathe of stonework, along with the foreground retaining wall, directs the gaze forward into the scene, after which the eye can choose to travel on towards the end of the harbour, or turn to cross the bridge itself and into the jostle of cottages.