The lying body of Christ is the core of the painting: it is the only horizontal line. The looks and gestures of all those present converge towards him. The oblique border line of the mountain in the background leads directly to his face and to Mary's, his mother who is holding her dead son on her laps.
Different particulars emphasize how dramatic the present situation is: there is no sun, but just a leaden sky, the angels seem to cry out sorrow, John's gesture (the figure at the centre of the painting), the tree on the right has no leaves and there is no grass at all on the rocky mountain.
Around Jesus: the two figures giving their backs seem to introduce the scene - Mary, a woman holding the arms and Mary of Magdala who is sitting on the floor and holding the feet in her hands.

Like John, manhood opens its arms in the presence of Christ's love, so great that he gave his life to save the world.