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  Johfra Bosschart, Unio Mystica, 1973 Born in 1919 as Franciscus Johannes Gijsbertus van den Berg in Rotterdam or as more commonly known Johfra Bosschart (The Artist adopted the pseudonym JohFra by using the first three letters from each of his two first names in reverse order.) was a Dutch surrealist Artist. Johfra and his wife Artist Ellen Lórien, established themselves in Paris and then Fleurac, France after relocating from the Netherlands after World War II. Johfra described his works in his own words as "Surrealism based on studies of psychology, religion, the Bible, astrology, antiquity, magic, witchcraft, mythology and occultism." Most of...

The general use of Art and symbol in cult and magic rituals has been employed since at least the Neolithic era and was used throughout ancient cultures. These early representations have evolved into a rich Artistic tradition with symbol and markings as diverse as the the sigils of Occultist Austin Osman Spare and symbology of modern avant-garde filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky.

Artist Philippe de Champaigne, Still-Life with a Skull,  c. 1671 vanitas painting oil on panel. Image via Public domain via Wikipedia  Artists have captured death's looming specter throughout history - Creating the skulls, skeletons and macabre symbols that have become Memento Mori or when translated "remember that you will die". During years of war, political unrest, famine and strife depictions of loss and morbid topics are commonplace resulting in a vast collection of death focused paintings and creations. Symbolically wine, musical instruments, skulls, flowers and hourglasses become reminders of the vanity and brevity of life. During the Sixteenth and Seventeenth centuries when organized religion and the...