Tall poplar trees rise in a close row along the riverbank, their slender trunks stretching vertically through the entire height of the canvas. The foliage forms a dense, irregular canopy near the top, with leaves rendered in loose, layered strokes of green, blue, and violet. Between the trunks, glimpses of a pale, overcast sky fill the background, painted in soft washes of lavender, pink, and grey.

The river runs along the bottom edge, its surface reflecting the vertical lines and cool tones of the trees above. The water is suggested with horizontal dabs and streaks of green, blue, and muted purple, echoing the palette of the landscape. A thick band of undergrowth and grass, painted in deep green and turquoise, separates the water from the tree trunks and anchors the composition.

No human figures or buildings interrupt the natural scene, and the entire view is unified by the soft, diffused light of a cloudy day. The brushwork is energetic and visible throughout, with short, broken strokes that create a shimmering effect in the leaves and sky. The composition is structured by the repetition of the poplars, which march rhythmically across the canvas and frame the distant landscape beyond.

Subtle variations in color and texture suggest the movement of air and the gentle play of light on the foliage and water. At the lower left corner, a dense cluster of dark green brushstrokes suggests thick bushes or low vegetation at the river’s edge. In the far background behind the trees, a faint, bluish silhouette of a wooded area is visible, rendered with softer, more blended strokes.

The upper right corner of the canvas is filled with overlapping foliage, where the leaves merge into a mass of cool, shadowy greens and blues. Light falls most strongly on the water’s surface, where pale pinks and lavenders are reflected in broken, shimmering lines. The vertical trunks are outlined with rough, textured edges, and the paint is applied in quick, visible strokes that create a sense of movement in the scene. Peupliers au bord de l’Epte, temps couvert was painted by Claude Monet in 1891.

The source lists Sotheby’s as a collection or point of sale for this work.