Tall rows of poplar trees, their leaves aflame in gold and orange, rise along both sides of a wide avenue that recedes sharply into the distance. The ground is carpeted with fallen autumn leaves, rendered in thick, textured strokes of ochre, orange, and red, creating a vivid path beneath the trees. A procession of stone sarcophagi lines the left side of the avenue, their pale, angular forms contrasting with the organic shapes of the foliage.

The sky above is a patchwork of cool greys and blues, with darker clouds gathering overhead, intensifying the drama of the autumnal scene. The brushwork is energetic and varied, with short, broken lines for the foliage and more solid, sculptural marks for the sarcophagi and tree trunks. Several figures are visible along the avenue, including a man in dark clothing and a hat walking toward the viewer in the foreground, and a woman in a long dress nearby.

Farther down the path, more figures appear in pairs or small groups, some walking together and others standing still. The avenue narrows dramatically toward the horizon, where the trees and path converge in a point of deep shadow. The lower left corner features dark green and brown brushstrokes, suggesting dense undergrowth or bushes at the base of the poplars.

Near the bottom right, the paint is applied in sweeping, almost horizontal strokes, emphasizing the texture of the fallen leaves. The edges of the painting are framed by the vertical trunks of the poplars, which create a strong linear rhythm on both sides. Light falls unevenly across the scene, illuminating the tops of the leaves and casting the lower portions of the trunks and sarcophagi into deeper shadow.

The sky is painted with horizontal, layered strokes that give a sense of movement and turbulence above the calm avenue. Fine, dark lines outline the tree trunks and figures, lending definition and structure to the otherwise loose and expressive brushwork. Vincent van Gogh painted Les Alyscamps in 1888 during his stay in Arles, depicting the ancient Roman necropolis known as Les Alyscamps, a site famous for its avenue of tombs and poplar trees.