Tall poplar trees rise in a vertical row across the center of the composition, their slender trunks and delicate branches dividing the canvas into rhythmic intervals. The foliage at the tops of the poplars is rendered in dappled touches of yellow, pink, orange, and green, suggesting sunlight filtering through early autumn leaves. Behind the trees, a soft blue sky fills the upper half of the painting, with hints of lavender and white that evoke a hazy, luminous atmosphere.

The lower portion of the canvas is dominated by the reflection of the poplars and sky in the calm water of the Epte River, where the vertical lines of the trunks are mirrored in blurred, shimmering strokes. At the riverbank, a band of deep blue and green marks the division between land and water, with patches of red and ochre suggesting undergrowth or fallen leaves. The brushwork is loose and varied, with thick, visible strokes that build up texture and movement throughout the scene.

No human figures or built structures interrupt the natural setting; the focus remains entirely on the trees, water, and sky. The composition is carefully balanced, with the vertical trunks anchoring the scene and the horizontal band of the riverbank providing stability. The signature of Claude Monet appears at the lower right corner, confirming the artist's hand.

The far left and right edges of the painting are filled with dense foliage, where the brushstrokes become more clustered and the colors deepen into richer greens and blues. In the upper left corner, the sky transitions to a slightly darker blue, contrasting with the lighter, sunlit areas at the center. The water’s surface in the lower foreground is broken up by short, horizontal strokes of paint, which create a sense of gentle ripples and movement. Poplars on the Bank of the Epte River was created by Claude Monet in 1891.