[1] The painting depicts a fantastic vision of human figures whirling dynamically in mid-air in a magical circle.

The artist represented himself as a pensive boy sitting on top of a stepladder above the titular vicious circle and holding a brush in his hand.

[citation needed] He is surrounded by the naked bodies of Bacchantes; youths and elderly men personifying the feelings and imagination of a young artist.

[2] Commenting on Vicious Circle, philosopher, painter and playwright Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz said that the artist and art in general play an important cognitive role.

Artists can see the human soul by ridding themselves of ordinary ways of thinking while creating in direct contact with the universe.