Two young women pick grapes under the gaze of another, older woman, wearing a blue dress. Puvis de Chavannes usually chose this colour for his more mature characters in his work. This figure fits with the theme of the work, symbolising the idea of the autumn of life in a parallel between the changing seasons and the ages of man.

This allegorical image may have originally been part of a project to create a cycle of four paintings, each representing one of the seasons, intended for the decor of the Musée de Picardie in Amiens. However, this is the only one of the series that was completed. It was acquired by the French government in the year it was painted, and was loaned to Lyon.

The pure lines of this peaceful composition convey the painter's aesthetic choices, accentuating the idea of a timeless harmony between mankind and nature. Puvis de Chavannes also makes numerous references with his figures' poses, inspired by both antique sculpture and the Renaissance. The slightly sharp colours, in particular the pink and yellow of the draperies, bring to mind certain works of  mannerist  decor, such as those created by Rosso and Primaticcio for the Palace of Fontainebleau. The artist manages to assimilate all of these forms and translate them into his own personal style, with a decorative approach that closely resembles a fresco.