The vessels 'Astrolabe' and 'Zelee' are shown on icy waters, one of them in the foreground and the other in the background. The vessel in the centre of the composition seems anchored and its crew is pulling several ropes on the shore. This is problably a depiction of the second expedition for the South Magnetic Pole (in the framework of the international competition for polar exploration), under the command of Jules Dumont d'Urville. Both vessels are most likely to be in the coast of Antarctica.

Inscribed in pencil on back of the picture: "Les Corvettes l'Astrolabe et la Zelee, 9 Feby 1838".