Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “Little Big Man Putin / Trump (Red)”
Summary
A stark red-ground screen print in which a towering black-suited figure stands as a puppeteer, working two long control rods that manipulate a smaller white-suited figure splayed below him like a marionette. Rendered in Cleon Peterson's signature flat black/white/red palette, it reads as a blunt allegory of one strongman pulling the strings of a weaker, controlled leader — a direct political statement consistent with Peterson's body of work on the abuse of power.
Why It Matters
The image distills Peterson's central obsession — the mechanics of domination — into a single iconic gesture: the puppet and the puppeteer. The vertical hierarchy (a looming, faceless dark authority above; a smaller, spread-eagled white figure below) makes the power imbalance literal rather than implied, stripping politics down to control and submission. Produced in 2018 at the height of a charged geopolitical moment, it is one of Peterson's most overtly topical works, translating his usual mythic-brutal language into pointed contemporary commentary.
Collector Perspective
A small edition of just 24, this screen print is one of Peterson's scarcer political releases and is hand-signed and numbered by the artist in pencil along the lower edge. The low edition size puts it well below his more common 100–150 run prints, which supports stronger demand among collectors who track his overtly political output. As a topical, of-the-moment piece rather than one of his evergreen mythological compositions, secondary-market interest can be sentiment-driven, but the tiny edition gives it real scarcity value within his catalog.
Historical Context
Made in 2018, the print belongs to the wave of explicitly political work Peterson produced during a period of intense focus on authoritarianism and strongman politics. It extends the artist's long-running examination of power and violence — themes he typically frames through classical Greek vase painting, Hogarth and street art — into direct contemporary allegory, using the puppeteer-and-marionette motif to comment on the relationship between competing heads of state.
FAQ
What does this print depict?
A large black-suited, faceless figure standing as a puppeteer, using two long control rods to manipulate a smaller white-suited figure splayed below him like a marionette — an allegory of one powerful leader controlling another.
What is the edition size?
The edition is limited to 24.
Is it signed and numbered?
Yes. It is hand-signed and numbered by Cleon Peterson in pencil along the lower margin.
What medium and year is it?
It is a screen print made in 2018.
Who is Cleon Peterson?
Cleon Peterson (b. 1973, Seattle) is an American artist known for stark, high-contrast scenes of violence, power and social conflict in a flat black, white and red palette, drawing on classical Greek vase painting, Hogarth and street art. He is also a frequent collaborator of Shepard Fairey.
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.