"Coming to a foreign country where life is filled with unease has clearly influenced a change in my

paintings. In Japan, I used to paint subjects like 'children' and 'animals'... but after arriving in Germany, I no longer care about 'who is being watched.' I can no longer paint things that don't matter tome. In other words, I flattened the background in my paintings, highlighting only the 'children' or 'animals.'" – Yoshitomo Nara

I n 1 9 8 8 , Yo s h i t o m o N a r a e n ro l l e d i n t h e Kunstakademie Düsseldorf in Germany, studying under A.R. Penck. In 1991, he considered his oil painting "The Girl with the Knife in Her Hand" as a crucial turning point in establishing his own style. At this time, Yoshitomo Nara began to shift away from the earlier multi-layered backgrounds in his paintings, opting for a simpler approach to emphasize the central focus of the image, highlighting the primary visual impact of his iconic figures. The artwork "No Real Christmas Tree on Christmas" was also created in 1991 and can be regarded as one of the first works produced after the artist redefined his own style. The artist toned down the use of contrasting warm and cool colors from his earlier works, allowing the

composition of the entire painting to become more balanced and gentle. The handwritten German

inscription by the artist within the painting interprets the image of an angel watering a sapling, creating a poetic and surreal atmosphere.