Preceded by a series of wintery drawings,[8] this painting was probably made in May 1884.[2] It depicts a view of the garden with a dark-clothed female figure in the foreground. In the distance are the ruins of the old church, also depicted in works such as Old Church Tower at Nuenen, before it was demolished in 1885.[9] It uses the dark palette of greens and browns, typical of Van Gogh's early works, with touches of green and red in the painting indicating that winter has passed and spring has begun.[10] In a letter that Van Gogh sent to Anthon van Rappard in March 1884, he mentioned the change in the seasons: "Ben ook zoekende naar de kleur van den wintertuin. Doch die is reeds een lente tuin - nu.