Vis met zes cirkels - Willem Westbroek

A symbolic drawing by Dutch Outsider artist Willem Westbroek, featuring a central tree, figures, and enigmatic circular motifs in graphite and blue pencil.

This drawing by the Dutch artist Willem Westbroek presents a curious, symbolic narrative rendered in light graphite and blue pencil. Westbroek, a self-taught artist, often populated his works with enigmatic figures and recurring motifs that suggest a personal mythology. In this composition, a central tree acts as the anchor for the scene, dividing the space between two distinct figures. To the left, a man in a hat interacts with the tree, while to the right, a figure stands alongside a unicorn-like creature. The upper portion of the drawing features a large circular form containing two fish and a series of smaller circles, creating a celestial or perhaps ritualistic atmosphere.

The line work is delicate and sparse, characteristic of Westbroek's preparatory or conceptual sketches. The composition is flat, prioritising the arrangement of symbols over realistic depth. Small details, such as the tiny windmill in the background, provide a sense of place, yet the overall effect remains dreamlike and detached from conventional representation. The use of blue pencil adds a subtle tonal quality to the work, distinguishing the upper symbolic elements from the figures below.

Westbroek's practice is often associated with Outsider Art, as his work developed outside the formal structures of the art world. His drawings frequently explore themes of nature, human interaction, and folklore, often blending these elements into singular, idiosyncratic visions. This piece offers a glimpse into the artist's process, showing how he layered disparate images to construct his own visual language. The work is preserved as part of a larger collection of his sketches, which document his creative output over several decades. It remains a compelling example of his ability to imbue simple line drawings with a sense of mystery and narrative weight.