The painting shows a large room in the Royal Alcazar of Madrid during the reign of King Philip IV of Spain and presents several figures. Some look out of the canvas towards the viewer, while others interact among themselves. The young Infanta Margaret Theresa is surrounded by her entourage of maids of honor, chaperone, bodyguard, two dwarfs and a dog. Just behind them, Velazquez portrays himself working at a large canvas. Velazquez looks outwards, beyond the pictorial space to where a viewer of the painting would stand. In the background, there is a mirror that reflects the upper bodies of the king and queen.