VISIONARY REVUE http://visionaryrevue.com/webtext2/jofworks9.
html
VISIONARY REVUE PARIS - SPRING 2003
minor figure in the midsts of some Drummel or
Mindscape, this was the first time he had rendered
himself clearly and self-consciously, without
self-facing humour.
The mindstuff mirrored in his works, we might
say, has now assembled itself into a clear,
well-defined image of himself as artist in the
tradition of the old masters. His identity is
established, and the work mirrors his mind’s gaze
ET MON PETITDEJEUNER? (1969) DAPHNE (1966)
unto itself, as the source, creator, artist, and indeed,
master of that gaze.
And slowly, these classical figures began to
invade his Mindscapes. Now, more traditional
monsters such as griffons and winged horses appear
in the foreground of what was, otherwise, a growing
organic amalgam of telluric vegetation. More
fascinating still, classical nudes could also be found,
now reclining in the foreground of these otherwise
chaotic inscapes.
During the Alpes Maritimes years, the classical
nudes also increased in their erotic quality. Though
Daphne (1966) still portrays a mythic subject, the
woman’s figure is more modern than classical. Her
arching back and exposed breasts invite the eye’s
appreciation and the mind’s caress.
The most interesting image to emerge during
this time is, in fact, Johfra’s own Self Portrait (1965).
He is now 46 years of age, and crossing over the
threshold of mid-life. The conception of the image is
classical: its triangular composition with the collars
forming the base of the triangle and his eye at its
apex, Johfra is seeing himself in the tradition of the
Netherlandish masters such as Van Eyck. The
landscape with aerial perspective, meanwhile,
harkens back to Da Vinci.
Only one small detail - the scarab beetle with its
ball of dung in the foreground - implies a more
symbolic aspect. Has he placed there a symbol of
rebirth to indicate his hopes for renewal after
death? Or does it indicate instead that he has just
SELF-PORTRAIT (1965)
emerged now - at this point in his life - from a (Zelfportret)
moment of self-renewal?
In any case, the Self Portrait marks a new step in
his life quest through painting. Though the artist
had already portrayed himself countless times as a
<--LAST PAGE NEXT PAGE -->
1 de 2 16/02/2017 16:06
VISIONARY REVUE http://visionaryrevue.com/webtext2/jofworks9.html
HOME EDITORIAL JOHFRA: JOHFRA: HERMETIC PANTHEIST
THE LIFE THE WORKS JOHFRA JOHFRA
DIANA ELLEN JOHFRA VANDENBERG LORIEN LINKS
VANDENBERG LORIEN GALLERY GALLERY GALLERY
2 de 2 16/02/2017 16:06
