《石濤墨荷圖軸》畫的是荷塘景色，以寫意水墨方式呈現荷花盛放的景象。構圖疏密交錯，畫面豐富。有荷葉、茨菰、蓮蓬、蒲草、荷花等等。
把水墨畫濃淡枯濕的筆法發展現得淋漓盡致，雖然畫家忽略藝術形象的外在逼真，但卻展現出荷花欣欣向榮的生命力。以及荷花的不同面貌。
Rendered in a xieyi style, Shitao’s Ink Lotus is an ink-wash painting depicting a scene of blooming lotus in a natural setting. Using rapid and rhythmic strokes, the vigorous composition consists of lotus leaves, Chinese arrowheads, lotus seedpods, aquatic grass, lotus flowers and so on. The arrangement of the subject matter infuses the picture with a dynamic quality.
The artist excels at painting the lotus pond with varied brushstrokes, heavy and light, of dry and wet ink. The painting is not a realistic and meticulous depiction of the subjects; instead, it presents the lotuses through an artistic expression highlighting the vitality and varied expressions of lotus flowers, leaves and seedpods.