Ishtar Queen of the Night meets Jackson Pollock - Convergence (1952)

Description

Analysis of the painting Convergence  (1952) by Jackson Pollock in 1952. This painting is a masterpiece of Pollock, especially a masterpiece in the art of 'abstract expressionism.' This work is a work that is difficult to make and the process of making it is not easy, do not be surprised if later this work is called "the world's most difficult puzzle". At first, Jackson Pollock himself only painted it in black and white, but because he saw it didn't fit, he added color and it became a work of Convergence  that we can now enjoy its beauty.

Jackson Pollock's painting style, as seen in Convergence , was an important and innovative development in the history of painting. At the time the painting was created, the United States took the threats of communism[1] and the Cold War with the Soviet Union very seriously. Convergence painting is considered as the embodiment of freedom of speech and freedom of expression. In this painting, Pollock looks 'rebellious' from the existing painting tradition, but he also promotes the values ​​of democracy and freedom, which are values ​​embraced by his nation, the United States of America. Seeing the similarity of the goals seen in this work with the interests of the United States government at that time, to make anti-communist propaganda, one of which was through works of art. Therefore, the United States government supports and endorses several of Pollock's works. Even some of Jackson Pollock's artwork was sponsored by the Congress for Cultural Freedom (an anti-communist advocacy group founded in 1950), which was backed by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The CIA appreciates Pollock's style, because it is considered to stay away from the flow of 'socialist realism' which is considered synonymous with the art of communism. Pollock's abstract expressionist work has its own characteristics, from the point of view of its unique depiction and colour selection, it is certainly made with long contemplation. This work is very valuable because it shows the rebellious nature of the established art flow and the expression of freedom is clearly visible.

[1] During World War II (1939 – 1945) the United States had relatively friendly relations with the Soviet Union due to the common enemy of Nazi Germany. The United States Communist Party had a drastic growth in membership in the United States, even President Franklin D. Roosevelt did not take the development of communism very seriously in the United States because of the United States' alliance with the Soviet Union. All of this changed because the allies (the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union) won the war. The United States wanted Germany that lost the war to become a liberal-capitalist country and the Soviet Union wanted Germany to become a communist country, in the end the two countries were divided by the two winners of World War II into a liberal-capitalist West Germany and a communist-ideological East Germany. The competition for influence between the two countries began in spreading ideology and influence to developing countries. This rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States is known as the Cold War. In the United States, during the time of President Harry S. Truman, there was a purge of communists in the United States through the House of Un-American Activities Committee, an institution formed to carry out a purge of communists in the United States. At this time, many people were arrested on the suspicion that they adhered to the ideology of communism.


Go To NFT Gallery | Copy Link