A boy springs above an enormous pile of autumn leaves with his arms stretched wide and both boots clear of the ground. His navy jumper and green wellies stand out against the rust, gold and brown of the leaves below. Loose leaves scatter around his knees and drift toward his sister, who is already nestled into the mound. She looks up at him laughing, her long blonde hair catching the light along its edges. Their open expressions and the suspended movement make the moment feel lively without hiding the small details of their clothes or faces.

The leaf pile sits beneath a thick oak trunk in a cottage garden. A wooden rake leans against the bark, suggesting the mound was gathered only recently. Behind the children, a stone house with white window frames stands beyond the lawn and shrubs. Low sunlight enters from the left, brightening the airborne leaves and tracing the rough surface of the tree. The nearest leaves fall into deeper shadow, showing curled edges, dry veins and a mixture of shapes. The tall composition gives the leap room above the mound while keeping the cottage and garden visible. It captures a simple autumn game at its most energetic instant.