A group of nude figures reclines, dances, and embraces in a sunlit, open landscape edged by trees and distant water. At the lower center, two figures lie stretched out on the grass, one with black hair resting on an elbow and the other with orange hair turned away, both outlined in strong, curving lines. In the foreground, another figure sits cross-legged, head bent down, rendered in pale pinks and lavenders with minimal modeling.

To the left, a pair of figures stands entwined, their bodies outlined in blue, while nearby a single figure raises both arms behind the head in a gesture of abandon. In the middle distance, a ring of dancers joins hands, their limbs elongated and simplified, forming a lively circle at the heart of the composition. The landscape is composed of broad, flat areas of color: golden yellows and oranges dominate the ground, while cool greens and violets fill the trees and sky.

Tree trunks and branches are drawn with sweeping, almost calligraphic lines, some in deep blue or red, curving across the surface and framing the scene. The sea or a distant lake appears as a horizontal band of blue and lavender, separating the bright foreground from the pale, open sky. Brushwork is visible in the loose, patchy application of color, with areas of the canvas left thinly painted or showing through, creating a sense of immediacy and lightness.

The composition is arranged to lead the gaze in a gentle arc from the reclining figures at the bottom, through the dancers at the center, and out to the standing figures at the edges. Small details, such as tufts of yellow grass and the delicate outlines of foliage, add rhythm and movement across the surface. Le Bonheur de vivre, also called The Joy of Life, is made by Henri Matisse.