Untitled 

This is an untitled print by Albert Christ-Janer. It uses the stark contrast of black ink on a white background to evoke a landscape. Produced in the mid-20th century, the abstraction evident here reflects a broader cultural turn away from traditional representation, and toward more subjective and conceptual forms of expression. But why? The rise of abstract art in the United States was partly supported by institutions like museums and galleries. These bodies often promoted abstraction as a universal language, free from the ideological associations of figurative art. Was this a way of appearing politically neutral during the tensions of the Cold War? By examining the archives of museums and collections, we can begin to uncover the complex interplay between artistic expression and the institutions that shape its meaning. Art history, then, becomes not just about the artwork itself, but about the whole network of social and cultural forces that give it significance.