During which historical period was the term "Iron Curtain" commonly used?

The term "Iron Curtain" was commonly used during the Cold War, which was a period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States, along with their respective allies, following the end of World War II. The phrase was popularized by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in a speech in 1946, signaling the division between Western democratic nations and Eastern communist countries in Europe. This metaphorical curtain represented the ideological and physical separation of the West, which was largely capitalist and democratic, from the East, characterized by communist regimes backed by the Soviet Union.

During the Cold War, which lasted roughly from the late 1940s to the early 1990s, the Iron Curtain became a powerful symbol, illustrating not only the political and military barriers but also the cultural and psychological divides that existed during this era of tension, competition, and conflict. The term encapsulated the essence of the confrontations and the state of affairs that defined international relations during this time, making its association with the Cold War clear and significant.