A tightly woven basket sits on a flat surface, filled with a cluster of apples in varying shades of yellow and green. The apples are arranged in a single layer, each one distinct in shape and color, some with hints of russet or green, others more golden, their rounded forms pressed closely together. The basket itself is oval, its rim and weave rendered with looping, rhythmic brushstrokes that echo the curves of the fruit it contains.

Light falls evenly across the scene, illuminating the apples and basket so that their surfaces gleam with highlights, while subtle shadows gather beneath the fruit and along the basket's edge. A signature reading 'Vincent 87' appears in red at the lower left, anchoring the composition and confirming the artist’s hand and the year of creation. The apples themselves are painted with visible, textured brushwork, their surfaces marked by irregular lines and dabs that suggest both the play of light and the roughness of their skins.

Each apple is given individual attention, with subtle variations in color and contour that distinguish one from another, yet they form a unified group within the basket’s embrace. The entire composition is built from strong, expressive strokes, with little attempt at precise realism, focusing instead on the energy and immediacy of the scene. The background consists of energetic, short strokes of yellow, ochre, and pale lavender, creating a vibrant, almost shimmering surface around the basket.

A patch of blue and purple brushstrokes appears beneath the basket at the lower left, suggesting a shadow that contrasts with the dominant yellows. The upper right corner of the painting is lighter, with more white mixed into the yellow, indicating a source of illumination from above. The edges of the basket are irregular, with some lines overlapping or breaking, emphasizing the handmade quality of the object.

Thick, directional brushwork is visible throughout, especially in the background and around the apples, where swirling lines and dashes create a sense of movement and texture. The subject is a classic still life, featuring apples as the central motif, a genre that allowed van Gogh to explore color, form, and the effects of light.