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In 1957, during his visit to Germany, Guan Liang created a series of works titled "German Landscapes." During his time in Germany, Guan Liang gained profound inspiration. The exotic local scenery captivated him, and he produced as many works as possible. This particular piece, "Helen," was especially beloved by Guan Liang and was later given to her daughter. It has been cherished by the artist's family for generations and is considered extremely precious.
In 1957, the Chinese Ministry of Culture signed a cultural exchange agreement with Germany, sending Li Keran and Guan Liang as members of a delegation to East Germany, where they held individual exhibitions in East Berlin. The Emscher Verlag publishing house in Leipzig published a catalog of his works. During his stay in Germany, Guan Liang was deeply influenced by the Western-style landscapes and created a series of German landscape paintings, which have remained preserved within his family. The two oil paintings previously exhibited under the theme "Exquisite Spirit and Vitality" are also part of this series; they attracted great interest and bidding from numerous collectors at their first auction.
The first two works in the German series both feature horizontal compositions, capturing distant mountains and waters. This "Helen" is somewhat different: a narrow European-style street extends diagonally across the canvas, with close-up surroundings occupying two-thirds of the picture plane, blending reality with imagination. Bold outlines and rich, harmonious colors convey the vibrancy of daily life and the painter’s inner joy, while the distant church standing amidst the mountains further enhances the painting’s strong modern artistic character.
The journey to Germany was one of the highlights of Guan Liang’s artistic life. His artistic expression in the Chinese style won admiration and affection from European audiences, allowing him to breathe in the atmosphere of modern art firsthand and fully immerse himself in its pleasures. To bring such joy to his family was truly the finest gift. "Life is interesting, art is interesting; life is colorful, and so is art," a phrase Guan Liang often spoke.