Two women are shown at the edge of the sea, both viewed from behind, with one standing in the shallow water and the other close to the shore. The second woman, farther into the water, is nude and appears to be moving forward, her arms raised as if about to dive or swim. In the background, a male figure stands partially obscured by greenery, holding a spear and looking toward the sea.

A large, curving tree trunk dominates the left side of the composition, its dark form arching above the women and separating the foreground from the water beyond. The sand in the foreground is painted in unusual shades of lavender and purple, scattered with orange and yellow leaves or flowers. The sea is rendered in deep greens and blues, with white highlights suggesting the movement of waves near the shore.

Bright, flat areas of color are outlined with darker contours, giving the scene a decorative, patterned effect. The brushwork appears broad and the paint is applied in unblended, distinct patches, emphasizing the separation of forms and colors. The lower left corner of the painting contains the artist's signature in red, written directly onto the lavender sand.

The background features several white, spiky palm fronds hanging above the male figure, contrasting sharply with the surrounding dark green foliage. The upper right edge of the painting is bordered by a band of dark green, suggesting dense vegetation or shadow beyond the water. Broad, curving lines define the edges of the tree trunk and the contours of the figures, while the orange flowers or leaves in the foreground are rendered with quick, gestural brushstrokes. Fatata te Miti was painted by Paul Gauguin in 1892.

The subject is described as genre art and depicts women, sea, wind waves, nudity, pareo, and tree.