Joan Brossa began to write hypnagogic images (based on his subconscious visions) during the period immediately after the Spanish Civil War. After to meet the catalan poet J.V. Foix, the advice of the latter led him to fit these images into the structure of the sonnet. He began using this poetic form in 1941, and it would be one of the traditional forms that Brossa used, also with the safic oda and the sestina (a form which he began to use later, after 1976). Joan Brossa's work is extraordinarily extensive in traditional forms. Amongst his major works we can quote: Fogall de sonets (Hotbed of Sonnets) (1943-48), Romancets del Dragolí (Little Romances of the Little Dragon) (1948), El pedestal són les sabates (The Pedestal is the Shoes) (1955), Els ulls de l'òliba (Owl's Eyes) (1974), Sextines 76 (Sestinas 76) (1976) o Furgó de cua (Van with a Tail) (1989-91).

In 1950, Brossa's literary work underwent a major change. Thanks to his conversations with the Brazilian poet, João Cabral de Melo, who was then in Barcelona, his poetry became more socially committed and closer to everyday reality. Amongst the significant books here are: Em va fer Joan Brossa (Joan Brossa Made Me) (1950), Poemes civils (Civil Poems) (1960), the series, Els entra-i-surts del poeta. Roda de llibres (The Ins-and-Outs of the Poet. Round of Books) (1969-75) o Passat festes (After Holidays) (1993-95).

Finally, it should be noted that Brossa also wrote prose, both creative fictional texts, such as U no és ningú (One is not Anybody) (1950), and circumstantial texts, (presentations for exhibitions, book prologues, texts for performances, etc.), or opinion pieces. Particularly representative of this latter facet are the collections Vivàrium (1972) and Anafil (a long straight medieval trumpet, of Arab origin - trans.) (1987).

The complete works of Joan Brossa hasn't been published as yet, but there are several volums consisting of a selection of books made by himself and these have contributed to make the public aware of the Catalan poet's versatility in this domain: Poesia Rasa (Bare Poetry) (1970), Poemes de seny i cabell (Poems of Sense and Hair) (1977), Rua de llibres (Cavalcade of Books) (1980), Ball de sang (Blood Dance) (1982) i Viatge per la sextina (Journey through the Sestina) (1987).