Joan Brossa began to write hypnagogic images (based on his subconscious visions) during the period immediately after the Spanish Civil War. After meeting the poet J.V. Foix, the advice of the latter led him to fit these images into the structure of the sonnet. This form, initiated in 1941, would be one of the traditional forms that Brossa used, along with the Sapphic ode (which he began to write in 1950) and the sestina (a form which he began to use later, after 1976). Joan Brossa's work in traditional forms is extraordinarily extensive, amongst the major works being 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 (Eyes of the Owl) (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 (This Made Me Joan Brossa) (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 the 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).

No volume of Joan Brossa's complete works has been published as yet, but there are several volumes consisting of a selection of books made by himself and these have contributed to making 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).