The protagonist in this scene, John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, stands partially concealed in the shade of a group of fanciful trees. It is as if Bloemaert wanted to prove that he could paint virtually anything and everything: a mountainous landscape, leafy trees, as well as figures, either nude or clad in exotic colourful gowns and arranged in complicated poses. All of this proves him to be a master of Mannerism.