Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “The Disappeared (Red)”
Summary
A stark, flat-graphic scene of two black-clad, helmeted authority figures swinging batons at a writhing white figure who buckles between them, a black void opening at his feet to swallow him. Rendered in Peterson's signature red, black and white palette, "The Disappeared" distills state violence and the forced erasure of dissidents into a single brutal tableau, a defining image in his ongoing examination of power and the abuse of authority.
Why It Matters
The Disappeared" is one of Peterson's most direct and widely recognized statements on state brutality, taking its title from the practice of authoritarian regimes "disappearing" their opponents. The composition reduces a political horror to its essentials: two faceless enforcers in helmets and uniforms, batons raised, and a lone victim bent and falling into a black hole that erases him from the world. The flattened, friezelike staging draws openly on Greek vase painting and Hogarthian moral narrative while reading instantly as contemporary protest imagery, making it a touchstone for Peterson's broader project of exposing the violence beneath civilization. The red ground variant intensifies the alarm, turning the entire field into a wash of blood and warning.
Collector Perspective
A screen print from 2019 in a very small edition of just 18, hand-signed and numbered by the artist. The tiny run places it firmly among Peterson's scarcer editioned prints rather than his larger open or standard releases, and demand for his strongest political images, "The Disappeared" among them, has been consistent. The red colorway is the more aggressive and sought-after of the variants. Buyers should expect to compete with other collectors when examples surface, as low-edition Peterson prints rarely come to market in volume.
Historical Context
Produced in 2019, "The Disappeared" belongs to the mature phase of Cleon Peterson's career, when his black-white-and-red visual language of brutality and power had become fully established and widely collected. The image speaks to the political climate of the late 2010s, with its anxieties around authoritarianism, police force, protest and the suppression of dissent. Peterson (b. 1973, Seattle) drew the title and theme from the long history of state-sponsored disappearances, recasting that horror through his classical, vase-painting-derived compositions and his ongoing presence in the street-art and fine-print world.
FAQ
What does this print depict?
Two black-clad, helmeted authority figures swinging batons at a central white figure who buckles under the blows, with a black void opening at his feet to swallow him. It is an image of state violence and the forced erasure, or disappearance, of a victim.
How large is the edition?
The edition is just 18, a very small run that makes this one of Peterson's scarcer prints.
Is it signed and numbered?
Yes. Like Peterson's editioned prints, it is hand-signed and numbered by the artist.
What is the medium?
It is a screen print, produced in 2019, in the red colorway variant of the image.
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. He draws on Greek vase painting, Hogarth and street art, and is a frequent collaborator with 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.