In 1973, poster magnate Engel Verkerke started the idea of creating a series of posters with the twelve zodiac signs created by Johfra Bosschart.
The size of the twelve boards is 90X60 cm, which corresponds to the size of the poster that will be issued. The compositions of the works are full of symbolism. For more than a year Johfra has been working on these twelve paintings and in 1975, the Zodiac series is on display at the Gallery Kamp (Amsterdam) and owner Walter Kamp bought the twelve paintings himself. Art critics have nothing to say about Johfra's work, but the public comes to see the paintings. But who is this artist who through his work taught all aspects of the zodiac signs and how was he introduced in the art of symbolism?
Johannes Fransciscus Gijsbertus van den Berg, known as Johfra, was born on December 15, 1919 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. He became famous from the series with the zodiac signs, however, his work is huge. From a young age, he showed his amazing talent in painting as well as his strong spiritual tendency.
With the support of his family at the age of 14, he entered the Royal Academy of Arts in The Hague where he studied from 1934 to 1942. His painting was initially inspired and had many elements from the painting of Leonardo and Michelangelo. During World War II, he discovered surrealists through the Nazi propaganda leaflets that were condemning surrealism as "indecent art." He was particularly inspired by Dali whom he later met. In 1941 he started his first surrealist works and in 1943 he had his first exhibition signing in his work as Johfra.
The Aries and the archetype of the warrior. Fiery and impetuous nature. In the background, the Magician is a symbol of Creation. The blindfolded woman is a symbol of impartiality.
His first works had many strange elements. They were mostly self-portraits but he also designed organic figures and extraterrestrial landscapes.
To avoid arrest, during the last part of the war, he hid close to his family. However, in 1945, a British bombing raid destroyed his family home along with a collection of 400 paintings and thousands of drawings.
This disaster led Johfra to start his work anew. His new style of painting was inspired by two women who took on the role of his muse. The first was the "dangerous" one, as he described it, Angele Therese Blomjous. The attraction was mutual and they quickly became a couple and in 1952 they got married. Angele was an idealist and very talented. Together, the couple began studying Rosicrucianism in The Hague and were introduced to the secrets of esoteric traditions such as Neoplatonism, Alchemy, Gnosticism, and Hermeticism.
After his divorce from Angele, Johfra met his second muse, Ellen Lorien, also a Rosicrucian artist and student. Together they left for France, where they built a small hut in a mountainous area near Nis and began their productive work. In 1973 Ellen, Johfra, his ex-wife, and some other artists formed the Meta-Realism group. Johfra had by then created exceptional works of inspired surrealist art and, although these works of art were not very popular at the time, their first exhibition was highly successful and received rave reviews.
In 1974, Johfra and Ellen changed their landscape by moving to a village in France, the Plazac of Dordogne, where they set up their studio in the castle stables; an area with a rich history and energy, from prehistoric times to and today. Its castle combined with the primordial beauty of the landscape and the caves inspired Johfra to create the imaginary, mysterious landscape of his works. As a lover of natural history, and in combination with his studies and his preoccupation with the secrets of the soul, he led his art to this marriage of the grotesque and the beautiful. His works are rich in details, mystical symbols while his landscape is full of strange life. Some of his works are characterized by childlike liveliness while others immerse the viewer in the absolute isolation of human nature. There are even works that give touches of deification and mystical ecstasy.
The sacred bull with Venus. Live nature with symbols of peace, motherhood, and abundance. The warrior's sleep signals the end of the war. Cupid with arrows as a little helper of the goddess. In the background, the High Priestess watches the Mysteries of Life
His paintings are considered to have been a journey into the human soul, and it is believed that it has not been an artist who delved so deeply into the mystical part of the art as Johfra. His understanding of the principles of Kabbalah, alchemy, astrology, theosophy, mythology, and Jung's ideas, led to an unprecedented use of symbols. With exceptional mastery, his works suggest absolute mystical enlightenment.
In his book "Astrology" published in 1981, Johfra characteristically says about symbolism:
“The deepest truths can only be approached through myths and symbols. They cannot even be conveyed through exegesis or philosophical treatise. The Truth can only be hinted at and, even then, can only be recognized by those who already know it. Yet this recognition lies dormant within us all. The mysteries raise this unconscious knowledge of truth to consciousness. This is not done with intellectual explanations but with symbols and games of mystery in which the truths are depicted in a dramatized form. All religions, all schools of mysticism, and esoteric societies used and still use symbols in their instruction, simply because what they are concerned with cannot be put over or expressed in any other way. A symbolic approach works totally different from an intellectual. The latter appeals only to the intellect, leaving the rest of the individual untouched; it remains a thought construction. A truly universal archetypal symbol works deep down; it touches the unconscious essence of the individual who thereby recognizes it from inside. It moves him totally. It strengthens him, changes him.. [..] In brief: a symbol, to those who meditate upon it and who can lose themselves in it, is like a door that opens out onto a fresh vista of consciousness. Symbolism is not exact and transferable like mathematics. It is not a science; it is more creative of atmosphere, and enlightening, like poetry. A symbolist is above all a poet, just as all poets are free symbolists because they too work with hints and indications.”
Johfra chased his muse and went wherever she wanted to take him, alternating styles and influences, until the end of his life in 1998. He went down in history as the artist who explored the soul.
The Celestial Twins. The union of opposites. The Fool and the Temperance of the Tarot on each side, showing the bridge between moderation and youthful folly. Monkey as a symbol of intellect, lion as a symbol of god, and unicorn of reincarnation.
Cancer and its treasures. Pearls and scarab as symbols Human Soul. The Moon, as the ruler of the sign, shines in the sky.
Leo and the Triumph of the Sun. In the background, Hercules is fighting with the Lion of Nemea. Apollo with his therapeutic Lyra
The Virgin (Virgo) as an Angel of Temperance and Love. Hermes/Mercury is her messenger and ruler as he represents the World Intellect
Libra and the weighing of the Heart, of the Egyptian religion. The marriage of the Sun and the Moon.
Scorpio in the Dark Kingdom of Death. Saint George kills the Dragon, the lowest Nature of man.
Jupiter with the thunder activates the bow of Sagittarius, which aims to Heaven
Capricorn is climbing up the rock. The ascetic Saturn, lord of Time with the hourglass, regulator of Karma and Life.
Aquarius with symbols of his two Rulers, Saturn and Uranus, pouring cosmic energy and Truth, for God-Sun's gratification.
Neptune embracing Pisces. Sadness, compassion, and universal love are seen in the face of the god, that is a portrait of the artist. The symbol of Jupiter on the right as a traditional ruler of the zodiac sign, before Neptune's discovery.
Imaginarium Magazine issue 4 April, 2021
Anastasia Diakidi
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