In Millet’s time, many people considered potatoes unfit food even for animals, but these peasants are planting potatoes for themselves to eat. “Why should the work of a potato planter,” wrote the artist, “be less interesting or less noble than any other activity?” Millet gives the harsh reality of their lives beauty and dignity, placing his solidly modeled, harmonious figures before a hazy landscape just beginning to green in the spring sun. The presence of the donkey and the sleeping child under the tree may recall another poor working family—the Holy Family of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus. Such religious resonances were frequent in Millet’s work.

百度翻译：http://fanyi.baidu.com

　　这是法国北部金色的秋天，一对农民夫妇正在田间整理他们的土地，画面由金黄与赭红两种颜色揉和在一起，使大地和原野呈现为一种迷人的色彩。男人头戴一顶褐色粘帽弯腰侧着身子，双手握着一枚撅头在刨地，他的两条腿扎在泥土上用着力气。女人站在男人的右边面朝土地，她头上缠着一条灰色丝巾，使她脸部的神情宁静而安祥，女人的那只右手伸向男人撅头在刨地的位置，泥土好像板结的很硬。他们的身后站立着两棵树，树下有一个圆形的条筐，筐沿边搭着一件深色衣服，筐里这对农民夫妇的婴儿正在睡梦中。树下还有一头灰色的毛驴，它竖着耳朵在倾听什么？不远处的四棵小树已现金黄的色泽，远方若隐若现的村庄，使天空的水蓝和灰白的云诗意而明亮。