Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Cleon Peterson Print Index
Power Can Do Anything / Justice Nothing (First Edition)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
"Power Can Do Anything / Justice Nothing (First Edition)" is a 2020 hand-pulled black-and-red screen print by Cleon Peterson, self-released in a signed, numbered edition of 125 at 18 x 24 inches on 290gsm Arches Rag. Its declarative title states Peterson's core thesis outright: the imbalance between raw power and powerless justice.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: Hand pulled 18 x 24" black and red screen print. Printed on 290gsm Arches Rag paper with deckled edges. Each print is signed and numbered. Limited edition of 125. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
Few Peterson titles state his worldview as plainly as this one. The line "Power can do anything, justice nothing" reads as a manifesto for his entire body of work, which repeatedly stages authority overwhelming fairness. As a first edition in black and red, it matters as a definitive text-and-image statement of his central preoccupation.
Collector Perspective
The larger edition of 125 makes this slightly more available than his editions of 75 or 100, while the explicit "First Edition" designation appeals to collectors tracking print sequence. At 18 x 24 inches in black and red on Arches Rag, it delivers strong graphic and thematic weight in an accessible format.
Historical Context
Released in 2020, the print channels Peterson's response to a year of contested authority and eroding faith in justice. The blunt title crystallizes his long-running critique of power's dominance over fairness, placing it among the most direct thesis statements in his election-year catalog of self-released editions.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned screenprint
- Release date
- 2020
- 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 24 x 18 inches; Hand pulled 18 x 24" black and red screen print. Printed on 290gsm Arches Rag paper with deckled edges. Each print is signed and numbered. Limited edition of 125.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: Hand pulled 18 x 24" black and red screen print. Printed on 290gsm Arches Rag paper with deckled edges. Each print is signed and numbered. 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: Released in 2020, the print channels Peterson's response to a year of contested authority and eroding faith in justice. 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 2020 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 does the title mean?
It states Peterson's core thesis: that raw power prevails while justice is left powerless, a theme running through his entire practice.
What is the edition size?
A signed and numbered limited edition of 125, marked as a First Edition.
What colors and paper?
Black and red, hand-pulled on 290gsm Arches Rag paper with deckled edges.
What are the dimensions?
18 x 24 inches, self-released by Cleon Peterson.
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