Books, Film & Media
The Recorded Legacy
While Johfra Bosschart left behind a physical legacy of paintings, his intellectual and philosophical world is best navigated through the written word and film. Below is a curated guide to the essential books and documentaries that chronicle his life. While many of these titles are out of print, they are highly sought after by collectors and can often be found in rare book markets.
Essential Books by Johfra
Symphonie Fantastique (Autobiography)
Completed just days before his death in November 1998, this is the most critical text for understanding the artist. It is a distillation of his massive 20-volume diary (spanning 1938–1998).
Johfra writes with brutal honesty about his "personal armor" developed in childhood, the trauma of the 1945 bombing that destroyed his early work, his complex relationship with the Rosicrucians, and his final liberation in the French Dordogne.
Astrologie: De tekens van de dierenriem
Astrology: The Signs of the Zodiac (1981)
Following the explosive success of his Zodiac poster series in the 1970s, Johfra wrote this book to explain the dense symbolism he utilized. Unlike standard astrology books, this is a treatise on Hermeticism, Kabbalah, and Neoplatonism.
Schetsboek van Johfra
The Sketchbook of Johfra (1978)
A rare glimpse into the "Leonardo-esque" discipline of his drafting. Contains studies of anatomy, drapery, and the grotesque "monster brains" that would later populate his Maldoror series.
Johfra Bosschart Zodiac Journal Collection
Zodiac Journal Collection (2024)
A beautifully curated collection featuring the complete Zodiac Series. This volume serves as both a visual reference and a journal, allowing admirers to engage deeply with the astrological imagery that defined Johfra's career in the 1970s.
Johfra Bosschart Zodiac Journal Collection (Alternative Edition)
Zodiac Journal Collection (2024)
Another edition of the curated collection featuring the complete Zodiac Series, providing further options for collectors and admirers to own these iconic works.
Johfra Bosschart Zodiac Journal Collection (Standard Edition)
Zodiac Journal Collection (2025)
The standard edition of the Zodiac Journal Collection, making the complete series accessible for journaling and reflection.
Johfra Bosschart Zodiac Journal Collection (Limited Edition)
Zodiac Journal Collection (2024)
A limited edition release of the Zodiac Series collection, offering a unique presentation for dedicated enthusiasts of Johfra's astrological masterpieces.
Critical Biographies & Analyses
Johfra: Hoogste lichten en diepste schaduwen
(Highest Lights and Deepest Shadows) - Gerrit Luidinga, 2001
The "Standard Work", published posthumously. This massive volume (over 500 pages) combines high-quality reproductions with extensive excerpts from his 6,000-page diary.
Johfra en de Zodiak
(Johfra and the Zodiac) - Hein Steehouwer, 1975
Contextualized by the critic who coined "Meta-realism." This book helped launch Johfra to international fame, framing his work as a spiritual tool for the New Age.
Johfra: Op de grenzen van het avontuur
(On the Limits of Adventure) - Pierre Borgue, 1974
One of the earliest serious examinations of his work during his "Aspremont" period in the French Alps.
Documentaries & Visual Media
De Wereld van Johfra (The World of Johfra)
Director: Robin Lutz (1991)
Filmed on location at Moulin de Peuch in the Dordogne, this documentary captures Johfra in his element—surrounded by human skeletons, crystals, and driftwood, and conversing with his muse, Ellen Lórien.
Search on YouTube"Van beroep: Fijnschilder"
(Profession: Fine Painter) - Broadcast 1976
Captures the height of the Meta-realist movement featuring interviews with the "7 Metarealists" group before they disbanded.
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