A torrent of twisting, naked bodies plunges downward through a stormy darkness, their limbs flailing in terror and anguish as they fall from a burst of heavenly light above. The composition spirals downward in a dramatic cascade, with bodies tumbling and interlocking, their faces contorted in expressions of horror, pleading, or despair. Lower in the painting, the colors deepen to fiery reds, ochres, and smoky blacks, suggesting the infernal abyss into which the damned are cast.

The swirling clouds and dynamic movement of the figures create a sense of chaos and violence, heightened by the strong contrasts of light and shadow across the scene. Rubens's energetic brushwork is visible in the muscular modeling of the bodies and the turbulent textures of the clouds and flames, with sweeping lines and layered color adding to the sense of motion. Small details, such as the twisted hands, contorted faces, and the glint of armor, reward close inspection and reinforce the painting’s emotional intensity.

A winged, red-robed figure hovers at the top center, gesturing downward from the edge of a glowing cloud. In the upper left, two dark, shadowy figures with outstretched wings are silhouetted against the blue-black sky. At the bottom left corner, monstrous creatures with horns and animalistic faces grasp at the falling bodies.

Serpentine forms and coiling tails wind through the lower regions, entangling the damned. The lower right corner features a cluster of figures pressed together, some shielding their faces with their arms. A strong diagonal shaft of light from the upper left illuminates the central mass of bodies, leaving the edges in deeper shadow.

The background transitions from cool blue and grey tones at the top to intense oranges and reds at the lower right. Loose, swirling brushstrokes in the clouds and flames create a smoky, vaporous effect around the figures. Fine, curving lines define the musculature and limbs, while broader, more gestural strokes are used for the chaotic background.