Ghana 

Friedel Dzubas created this abstract painting, titled Ghana, with acrylic on canvas. The mid-20th century saw the rise of abstract expressionism, a movement that sought to express inner emotions and ideas through non-representational forms. But abstract art cannot be separated from its social context. During the Cold War, abstract expressionism was promoted by institutions like the Museum of Modern Art and the CIA, as a symbol of American freedom and individualism, implicitly contrasting with the totalitarian regimes of the Eastern Bloc that promoted socialist realism. Dzubas, though German by birth, contributed to this American narrative. The title, Ghana, is a clear reference to the African nation, it might reflect an interest in post-colonial identities. To fully understand the role of abstract expressionism, one must consider the institutional and political forces that shaped its reception. Art historians use archives, period publications, and institutional records to explore these connections, revealing how art is always embedded in a complex web of social and political meanings.