Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “To Tell The Truth”
Summary
A stark screen print in Peterson's signature black, white and red palette depicting two uniformed, club-wielding police or riot figures flanking and beating a surrendering red nude whose hands are raised, while a second red figure crumples to the ground beneath; a riot shield, a dripping baton and a trash bin scatter the foreground. It is a quintessential Cleon Peterson tableau of state violence and the abuse of authority, rendered in his flattened, frieze-like composition.
Why It Matters
The image distills Peterson's central subject — the unequal contest between armed authority and the defenseless body — into a single unflinching scene. By dressing the aggressors in recognizable police/riot uniforms and shields while leaving the victims as raw red flesh with arms raised in submission, Peterson sharpens his usual allegory of brutality into a pointed comment on policing and state power, themes that resonated strongly in the political climate of 2018. The bitterly ironic title set against an image of beating and silencing underscores his recurring preoccupation with truth, power and who gets to wield it.
Collector Perspective
A 2018 screen print from a small edition of 42, hand-signed and numbered by the artist. The compact edition size and the explicitly political, police-violence subject make it one of the more pointed and desirable single-sheet Peterson prints rather than a large open run. It sits in the mid-tier of his print market: more scarce than his larger editions but priced below his major multi-color or collaborative works. Condition, full margins and the deckled edges visible here matter to value.
Historical Context
Released in 2018, at the height of public debate over policing, protest and state force, the print belongs to Peterson's mature body of work in which classical, frieze-like compositions are turned on contemporary power structures. The flat black/white/red scheme, the writhing and falling figures, and the looming uniformed authorities are consistent with the visual language he developed across his End of Empire and related series, drawing on Greek vase painting, Hogarth and street-art directness.
FAQ
What does this print depict?
Two uniformed, baton-wielding authority figures with a riot shield beating a surrendering red nude whose hands are raised, while another red figure collapses on the ground — a scene of state violence and the abuse of power.
What is the edition size?
The edition is limited to 42 impressions.
Is it signed and numbered?
Yes. Like Peterson's editioned prints, it is hand-signed and numbered by the artist; a pencil notation is visible in the lower margin.
What medium and year is it?
It is a screen print produced in 2018.
Who is Cleon Peterson?
Cleon Peterson (b. 1973, Seattle) is an American artist known for stark, high-contrast black/white/red scenes of violence, power and social conflict, drawing on Greek vase painting, Hogarth and street art, and a frequent Shepard Fairey collaborator.
Related Works
About the Artist
Cleon Peterson (b. 1973, Seattle) is an American artist known for stark, high-contrast scenes of violence, power and social conflict, rendered in a flat, limited palette of black, white, red and gold. His chaotic compositions of fighting, clubbing and writhing figures expose the abuse of power and the brutality beneath civilization’s surface, drawing on classical Greek vase painting, Hogarth and street art. A frequent collaborator with Shepard Fairey, he shows internationally; his prints, sculptures and editions are widely collected in the urban-contemporary market.
Collecting Cleon Peterson at Gauntlet Gallery
Where can I buy authentic Cleon Peterson prints?
Gauntlet Gallery offers an extensive, authenticated inventory of Cleon Peterson prints and contemporary editions, with new drops added regularly. Browse the current collection at gauntlet.gallery.
How does Gauntlet Gallery ensure authenticity?
Gauntlet Gallery is built on curation, authenticity and transparency — every work is vetted and its provenance, edition details and condition are disclosed up front.
Does Gauntlet Gallery add new Cleon Peterson prints?
Yes. New drops are released regularly across Cleon Peterson and other leading artists; see gauntlet.gallery for the latest inventory.