Ferdo Vesel experimented with the motif of the naked boy by water in different styles, from Realism to Impressionism. Influenced by Rihard Jakopič, with whom he painted landscapes in Schwabing in Munich, Vesel practised en plein air painting, while also adopting genre compositions emphasising reflection into his painting programme. Although Vesel approached Impressionism, he did not choose to follow it in a programmatic manner and essentially remained a realist painter. He focused his explorations on the effect of light and colour on bodily expressiveness and developed a personal style of painting, which is evident in his Boy in Greenery. The naked body is expressively rendered, yet it is painted in such a way as to fuse with the surrounding space into an ethereal whole that is compositionally closed and provides a safe haven for the pensive child. Applications of white paint blend discreetly on the body, while the bolder brushwork around it creates a play of shifting light. The overall impression of the painting is fresh and cool, despite the presence of warm tones. The boy is soothed by the refreshing water into which he dips his feet, as he rests his head on his left hand and ponders unknowable things.