Illustration for "Peronnik the Fool": Redemonde on the Staircase

This engraving, created for a 1933 edition of Andrew Lang's fairy tale "Peronnik the Fool," draws us into a dramatic moment. We see Redemonde, a central character, descending a grand staircase. The intricate details of her gown, the flowing drapery, and the architectural elements of the setting are rendered with remarkable precision, a hallmark of the engraving medium. The scene feels charged with a quiet tension, as if we've caught Redemonde just as she is about to encounter something significant. The artist, Stephen Gooden, was an English engraver and illustrator, known for his finely detailed and inventive designs, often for limited edition books. Here, the sharp lines and stark contrasts of light and shadow create a sense of depth and atmosphere, perfectly suiting the fantastical narrative it illustrates.