In describing the art of, Jiang Guofang, the renowned oil artist, Wang Yidong, once said, ‘We can find historical themes in Chinese music, dance, films and drama, but not in Chinese oil painting. Jiang’s art fills this gap. I agree with the remark of the Qing historian, Wang Shuyuan, that Jiang has found the Forbidden City, and that Jiang is the only one who would use the City as a theme to expand on Chinese culture and traditions. I think Jiang’s art has enriched the history of Chinese oil painting. Jiang is a persistent person, who keeps to his own path.’ This catalogue was published to celebrate Jiang Guofang’s fourth solo exhibition in Hong Kong, and the special exhibition at the Forbidden City, both held in the year 2001. With reproductions of all Jiang’s paintings of the period 1991-2001, this catalogue also offers as a comprehensive record of his artistic life between this period.

在評價姜國芳的畫風時，著名油畫家王沂東曾說過：「我國的音樂、舞蹈、電影、戲劇等藝術門類裏，都有許多以歷史題材的作品，唯獨在油畫界沒有這樣的作品，姜國芳抓住這一點，十多年來以自己獨到的角度執着地進行創作。我同意一位清史專家王樹元教授的看法，稱姜國芳發現了紫禁城，是中國當代唯一發掘了紫禁城題材的油畫家，並把它與中國文化傳統結合起來。我想他這種油畫風格充實了中國的油畫題材，對中國的美術史也是一個重要的貢獻。姜國芳是一個很執着的人，認準的路就會一直走下去。」姜國芳於2001年在香港舉辦第四次個展，同年亦在紫禁城舉辦了另一次特展，本圖錄便是為這兩場展覽而刊印的。書中載錄了姜國芳從1991年至2001年期間的所有作品，詳盡地記述了畫家在此期間的藝術蛻變。