Dark Clothes
As Charlie and Nicole's marriage falls apart, imagery involving dark clothes becomes more prevalent. Both Charlie and Nicole wear darker clothes as their marriage falls apart and they ultimately decide to get divorced after Charlie's infidelity. This underscores the sadness and the solemnity of the situation and underscores how damaging their relationship falling apart is to them and those around them - especially their child.
Mask
As Nicole deals with the effects of her divorce proceedings and she grows more sad, mask imagery is more frequently included. In one instance, Nicole wears a mask while standing outside. This obscures her face and thus obscures her identity. This shows how she has lost her identity throughout the divorce proceedings and illustrates how she doesn't know who she fully is anymore.
Tennis
As Charlie becomes more and more angry with the divorce proceedings, imagery surrounding tennis (rackets, nets, courts, etc.) become more prevalent. Tennis is a game of motion and anger; Charlie uses tennis as an outlet to deal with his feelings about the proceedings.
Charlie's Musical Instruments
As Charlie becomes more and more withdrawn from his life and his family, imagery concerning his musical instruments (including his trumpet) is more frequently included by director Noah Baumbach. This imagery illuminates Charlie's preoccupation in his work and his slow withdrawal from his family life.
