Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Cleon Peterson Print Index
Mercenaries (Gold)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
"Mercenaries (Gold)" is a 2018 hand-pulled black and gold screen print measuring 28 x 38 inches, self-released by Cleon Peterson in a limited edition of 125. Printed on 290gsm Coventry Rag paper with deckled edges and signed and numbered by the artist, its larger horizontal scale suits a scene of massed figures.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: limited edition of 125. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
The gold ink lifts this print beyond straight monochrome, adding a lacquered, almost heraldic sheen to a subject about hired violence. The theme of mercenaries, figures who fight for payment rather than cause, aligns tightly with Peterson's ongoing interrogation of amoral power, making the title unusually pointed within his catalog.
Collector Perspective
At 28 x 38 inches, this is one of the larger self-released Peterson prints, and its edition of 125 keeps it scarcer than his standard 150-run sheets. The black-and-gold palette is a favored collector configuration, and the combination of size, hand signature, and archival stock gives it strong presence on the wall.
Historical Context
Self-released in 2018, "Mercenaries" reflects Peterson's continued preoccupation with organized brutality and the marketplace of force. The gold-on-black treatment connects to a broader vein in his work where precious-metal ink is used to lend ceremonial gravity to scenes of conflict, framing violence as ritual rather than aberration.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned screenprint
- Release date
- 2018
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Screen Print; catalog dimensions 38 x 28 inches; 28 x 38" hand pulled black and gold screen print; printed on 290gsm Coventry Rag paper with deckled edges.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: limited edition of 125.
- Signature and marks
- The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Documented History and Meaning
History note: This page treats Cleon Peterson's broader career as background context, not proof that this specific edition belongs to any single exhibition or event. Release-level facts here come from a saved secondary catalog record.
Meaning / interpretation: Read as documented context rather than stated intent: Self-released in 2018, "Mercenaries" reflects Peterson's continued preoccupation with organized brutality and the marketplace of force. This is an interpretive reading of the release context, not a statement of the artist's intent for this specific work. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2018 and attributes the edition to Cleon Peterson (Self Released).
Authentication, Presentation and Provenance
- Original presentation
- Original packaging or presentation was not documented in the release sources reviewed.
- Authentication note
- Compare the support, dimensions, edition number, and signature against a documented example of this edition. Gauntlet Gallery does not authenticate works purchased from third parties.
- Provenance note
- Edition origin is attributed in the saved record to Cleon Peterson (Self Released). That does not establish the ownership history of an individual copy: retain the original invoice, reseller or gallery paperwork, labels, correspondence, and condition photographs.
Sources and Verification
Verification status: Secondary catalog snapshot; artist-level context added
- Saved release record — Art Collectorz · secondary catalog snapshot · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Starting record for title, year, edition, dimensions, medium, and release description. Primary confirmation against the original release page remains pending.
- Cleon Peterson — official site — Cleon Peterson studio · primary artist source · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Official artist site; career context, not an individual-edition record.
- Cleon Peterson — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
- Cleon Peterson (Q124215748) — Wikidata · reference knowledge base · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Structured identifier used for the artist across catalog metadata.
FAQ
What is the edition size?
It is a limited edition of 125, each print signed and numbered.
What colors is it printed in?
Black and gold, on 290gsm Coventry Rag paper with deckled edges.
How does its size compare to other Peterson prints?
At 28 x 38 inches it is larger than his standard 18 x 24 self-released sheets.
Who released it?
It was self-released directly by Cleon Peterson.
