A stag bursts from the left side of the scene, its head raised and legs extended as it flees from a pack of hounds and the huntresses who pursue it. Her muscular posture and flowing blonde hair, caught in motion, emphasize the energy and urgency of the chase. To Diana’s right, a nymph in a yellow dress follows closely, her arm outstretched as if urging the hounds onward, her expression intent and focused.

Behind them, two more nymphs join the pursuit: one raises a horn to her lips, while the other holds a spear aloft, both caught mid-stride in swirling drapery. At the lower left, a tangle of hounds attacks the stag, their bodies twisting and jaws open, painted with dynamic, loose brushwork that conveys the chaos of the hunt. The forest setting is rendered in deep greens and browns, with sunlight filtering through the foliage and illuminating the figures from the upper left, casting dramatic highlights on skin and fabric.

The composition sweeps from left to right, with the movement of animals and figures leading the eye across the canvas, while the diagonals of limbs, spears, and flowing garments create a sense of rhythm and momentum. Rubens uses a warm palette for the figures, contrasting the cool shadows of the woods and the golden light that falls on Diana and her companions. The paint surface appears lively and textured, especially in the depiction of fur, foliage, and the swirling fabrics, with visible brushstrokes enhancing the sense of immediacy.

Small details, such as the golden bands on Diana’s ankles and the intricate folds of the nymphs’ dresses, reveal the artist’s attention to ornament and movement.