An abstract oil painting by Jacques Villon, 'Les Peupliers' depicts poplar trees using geometric shapes and a muted colour palette, showcasing the artist's Cubist style.

Jacques Villon (1875-1963) was a French Cubist and abstract painter, printmaker, and draughtsman. Born Émile Méryon, he adopted the pseudonym Jacques Villon as a painter. He was the brother of artists Raymond Duchamp-Villon and Marcel Duchamp. Villon developed his style of Cubism, which he called "Section d'Or" or "Golden Section Cubism", during the 1910s. His work often explored the use of geometric forms and fractured planes to represent subjects. He was interested in the interplay of light and colour. He was also influenced by the work of Paul Cézanne. 'Les Peupliers' presents an abstract interpretation of poplar trees. The composition is divided into geometric shapes and planes, rendered in a palette of muted greens, blues, pinks, and browns. The trees are suggested by vertical forms, while the ground is represented by horizontal blocks of colour. The brushwork is visible, adding texture to the surface. The painting has a fragmented, almost mosaic-like quality, characteristic of Villon's Cubist style.