In The Lièvre River, Gatineau, Maurice Haycock depicts a broad winter valley animated by the gentle curve of the river as it winds through snow-covered farmland. The frozen landscape is softened by passages of open water, rendered in cool blue-greys that contrast with the warm ochres and browns of exposed earth along the banks. Scattered farmhouses and outbuildings punctuate the foreground, their simple forms anchoring the composition and lending a quiet human presence to the expansive scene.

Beyond the river, wooded slopes rise toward rounded hills and distant mountains, painted in subdued tones that suggest depth and winter haze. Haycock’s brushwork is confident and economical, balancing broad, atmospheric passages with firmer structural accents in the buildings and fences. The pale winter sky stretches calmly overhead, reinforcing the sense of stillness and clarity.

Overall, the painting conveys a serene rural winter, where the landscape feels both expansive and intimate—an understated, thoughtful view of the Gatineau region shaped by season, light, and quiet habitation.