The painting is a symbolic representation of the final parting. The main actors, although distant and without obvious mutual communication, are indicated by the opposition of light and darkness, good and evil, incorruptibility and meanness… The black lady takes the "light" into the darkness, while the lonely, hunched male figure remains with his head bowed. In the lower corner of the picture, a faithful dog, her symbolic companion and guard, curled up next to the young girl in white.