patinier utilised a "weltlandschaft" ("world landscape") composition with a three-colour scheme typical of his work, moving from brown in the foreground, to bluish-green, to pale blue in the background). this format, which patiner is widely acknowledged as popularising, provides a bird's-eye view over an expansive landscape. furthermore, the painting uses colour to visibly depict heaven and hell, good and evil. to the viewer's left is a heavenly place with bright blue skies, crystal blue rivers with a luminous fountain and angels accenting the grassy hills. on the far right of the painting is a dark sky engulfing hell and the hanged figures on its gate. fires blaze in the hills. the foreground of the painting consists of brown rocks in heaven and brown burnt trees in hell.