Untitled (BC-115)

Curator’s reflection

In this striking self-portrait, William Henry Broome holds a small blue figure-arms outstretched in front of a fiery, textured background. The figure becomes both companion and symbol, representing play, vulnerability, and the inner child that remains within us all.

The intense orange surface pulses with energy, evoking fire, life force, and the creative spark. Broome places himself at the center of this field-not in arrogance, but in honesty-acknowledging the inseparable link between the artist, his creation, and his truest self.

Broome's use of thick, tactile paint gives the work a physical presence. Every stroke is felt, not just seen. The blue figure contrasts yet harmonizes with the background, a reminder that our imaginative, playful selves can exist even in the midst of life's most intense moments.

Broome does not tell us who to be; he invites us to remember who we are beneath it all. This painting is an affirmation that creativity and innocence are not lost with time-they are simply waiting to be held again.

Like much of Broome's work, it remains an open-ended mirror for personal truth, reflection, and rediscovery.

Looking closer

Broome's impasto technique is masterfully evident in this self-portrait. The thick, expressive strokes create a dynamic, almost sculptural surface. The vibrant orange background conveys intensity and warmth, while the blue figure introduces contrast, symbolizing imagination, play, and the inner child. The direct gaze and unguarded presentation invite the viewer into a space of authenticity, where the artist meets us as both creator and creation.

A moment to reflect

The child within us never stops reaching for wonder, for play, for connection. He left more than paintings. He left a life painted in brushstrokes.

WHB Virtual Museum