The image is a black and white illustration of a shipwreck scene. The ship appears to be sinking, as there is a large plume of smoke rising from the deck and a large ship in the background. The sky is cloudy and the water is choppy. In the foreground, there are several people on the deck of the ship, some of whom are lying on the ground, while others are standing on the ship's deck. On the right side of the image, there is an old-fashioned cannon with a skull-like figure on top of it. The figure is wearing a hat and a coat with a cross on it, and is looking out towards the horizon. The overall mood of the illustration is somber and desolate.