The painting depicts three women in a harvested field, stooped low to the earth in a process known as gleaning. Each figure is captured in a different stage of the labor, bending deeply to gather scattered stalks of wheat left behind after the main harvest. Their postures express the physical toll of their work, with their heads bowed and bodies angled toward the ground. The central figure is shrouded in dark fabrics, while the woman on the far right stands slightly more upright, holding a small bundle of gleaned stalks.
In the background, the vast, sun-drenched field stretches toward a distant horizon where the faint outlines of farm structures and stacks of hay are visible. The composition emphasizes the contrast between the three laborers in the foreground and the expansive, golden-toned landscape behind them. The light suggests the warmth of a late summer afternoon, casting soft shadows beneath the women.
The colour palette is defined by earthy tones, featuring muted browns, deep ochres, and dusty yellows. The women wear simple, rustic clothing in faded blues, pinks, and browns, with head coverings that blend into the overall somber, realistic mood of the scene. This is a classic realist oil painting, characterized by precise brushwork that captures both the textures of the dry, stubbly field and the heavy fabrics of the workers' garments.