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Untitled (BC-223)

William Henry Broome

Date

n.d.

Dimensions

18 × 36 in.

Credit

© Broome Collection Inc. · © Broome Holding LLC — Property of the William Henry Broome Collection. This artwork forms part of a privately held archival collection. Unauthorized reproduction, publication, photography, digitization, AI training, licensing, or commercial use is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved by Broome Holding LLC and affiliated entities.

Curator’s reflection

At first glance, BC-233 appears almost disarmingly simple, a butterfly or perhaps a moth with its wings fully opened against a brilliant field of yellow. Yet Broome’s treatment transforms this familiar image of nature into something heavier, textured, and deeply expressive.

The wings dominate the composition. Rather than delicate and pristine, they are built through dense, repeated strokes of white, ochre, brown, muted green, and touches of blue. They appear weathered and imperfect yet remain completely open suggesting both vulnerability and resilience.

The brilliant yellow surrounding the figure introduces warmth, light, and the possibility of renewal. At the center, however, Broome places a relatively small reddish-brown body supporting two enormous wings, creating a striking contrast between fragility and strength.

Within the broader emotional language of Broome’s work, the butterfly invites thoughts of transformation, freedom, and perhaps escape. But transformation does not necessarily erase what came before. The marks remain visible.

Perhaps that is what gives BC-233 its quiet power: Broome presents us with something marked by its journey, yet still capable of opening its wings.

Looking closer

From a distance, BC-233 appears balanced and almost symmetrical, but closer inspection reveals two distinctly different wings. The left is darker and earthier, while the right carries greater warmth and light. Broome’s repeated strokes create a heavily textured surface, giving the wings the appearance of something weathered yet still capable of flight. At the center, the small, vulnerable body holds these enormous wings together, while Broome’s prominent signature beneath it subtly connects the image to the artist himself.

A moment to reflect

Can something be weathered by life and still possess the strength to open its wings? Perhaps transformation is not about erasing what we have endured but discovering what we can become because of it. He left more than paintings. He left a life painted in brushstrokes.