Illustration for "Peronnik the Fool": Cock Key

This intricate engraving was created by Stephen Gooden for an illustrated edition of the Breton folktale 'Peronnik the Fool' in 1933, during the height of his career as one of England's most celebrated engravers. The 'Cock Key' refers to a magical object in the tale—Peronnik, a simple-minded shepherd boy, must obtain this enchanted key (which takes the form of a rooster) to unlock the castle of the sorcerer Rogéar and claim a golden basin and diamond lance. Gooden was renowned for his finely detailed copper engravings that combined technical precision with wit and inventiveness, skills he honed through his association with fine press publishers like the Nonesuch Press. His work from this period shows his mastery of the medium—delicate cross-hatching, rich tonal variations, and intricate decorative elements that bring fairy-tale subjects to vivid life. By 1933, Gooden had just been elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers, recognition of his status as a leading figure in British printmaking. His ability to capture the fantastical while maintaining exquisite craftsmanship made him an ideal illustrator for literary classics and folklore.