A field of poppies fills the canvas, their petals ranging from deep vermilion to soft apricot, each bloom centered with a dark, greenish eye. Slender curved stems, closed buds and pale sage leaves rise from a dark base at the bottom edge.

The sky behind is a loose scrub of blue-grey and pale cream, worked in broad, visible strokes. Thick impasto paint gives the petals a sculpted, ridged surface, and the warm orange against the cool blue keeps the whole scene bright and lively.