Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Cleon Peterson Print Index
This Is Darkness II (Gold)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
"This Is Darkness II (Gold)" (2017) is a square 28 x 28-inch hand-pulled black-and-gold screen print on 290gsm Coventry Rag with deckled edges, signed and numbered in an edition of 175. The generous square format gives Peterson room for a fuller cast of struggling figures, the gold ink lending a ceremonial weight to the chaos it frames.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: limited edition of 175. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
The 28-inch square is one of Peterson's most impactful presentation formats, and the "II" designation marks it as a continuation within the "This Is Darkness" theme. At 175 impressions it is a mid-sized self-released edition, balancing availability with the ambition of a large, densely populated composition suited to statement wall placement.
Collector Perspective
Larger square editions carry presence that collectors weigh against the practical demands of framing and conservation at this scale. The 175-count run is modest for a work of this footprint. Buyers should confirm the pencil signature, edition number, and the condition of the deckled edges, which are structurally exposed on a large sheet.
Historical Context
Peterson's "This Is Darkness" imagery sits at the heart of his meditation on human cruelty and social breakdown, themes he developed through the 2010s in murals and prints worldwide. The gold-on-black treatment reframes contemporary violence in the gilded, timeless register of ancient friezes, insisting that the darkness he depicts is neither new nor resolved.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned screenprint
- Release date
- 2017
- 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 28 x 28 inches; 28 x 28" 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 175.
- 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: No per-work artist statement is recorded for this edition. Any thematic reading should be treated as interpretation of the imagery, not a documented statement of the artist's intent. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2017 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 "II" signify?
It marks this as a second composition within Peterson's "This Is Darkness" theme, distinct from the first while sharing its title and thematic concerns.
What are the dimensions?
It is a large square print at 28 x 28 inches on 290gsm Coventry Rag paper with deckled edges.
How many were produced?
The edition is limited to 175 impressions, each signed and numbered by Cleon Peterson.
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