Shadow tracing gives a grandfather and granddaughter a quiet game on an autumn sidewalk. He holds his arms gently outward while she crouches beside the long silhouette and follows its edge with blue chalk. The dark shape begins at his shoes and stretches across the concrete toward the foreground. A partial line curves around one arm, making their shared idea immediately visible.

His gray cardigan has a soft shawl collar, ribbed texture and dark buttons over a pale blue shirt. Brown corduroy trousers and suede shoes echo the fallen leaves. The girl wears a small floral blouse beneath a denim pinafore, with burgundy leggings and sturdy boots. She watches the chalk closely while he looks down at her progress with a smile.

Iron garden fences run along the left side of the pavement. Beyond them, pumpkins and pots of chrysanthemums brighten the steps of clapboard porches. Golden and copper leaves fill the canopy, and a tall black lamp follows the curve of the walk. The broad scene preserves both the simple drawing activity and the long afternoon light that makes it possible.