This is a vintage black and white illustration depicting a scene underwater. A large, boxy submarine is positioned in the center of the image, with a bright light emanating from its front. Surrounding the submarine are numerous fish of various sizes and shapes, seemingly attracted to the light. The fish are depicted in dynamic poses, some leaping towards the light, others swimming around the submarine. The background is filled with dense, vertical lines representing the water, creating a sense of depth and movement. The style of the illustration is reminiscent of 19th-century scientific or exploratory drawings. At the bottom of the image, there's text in French: 'La descente commence à 1 h. 25 (Page 171.)', which translates to 'The descent begins at 1:25 (Page 171)'.