“Stop to appreciate the intricate details of this engraving, a charming illustration for a story that invites you into a world of magic and wonder, all rendered with remarkable precision.”
This engraving, a tailpiece for the story "Peronnik the Fool," draws the viewer into a whimsical, almost magical scene. A young boy, presumably Peronnik, stands at the center, his gaze fixed on a small, glowing sphere held aloft by a mysterious, robed figure. The intricate detail, characteristic of engraving, brings out the textures of the figures' clothing and the subtle play of light and shadow across the composition. The setting, with its suggestion of an ancient, perhaps sacred space, adds to the work's enigmatic quality. It's a small but compelling image, inviting contemplation of the narrative it illustrates, and showcasing the precision and inventiveness that define this particular artistic medium.
- Artist
- Stephen Gooden
- Date
- 1933
- Medium
- engraving
- Location
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Dimensions
- [object Object]
What to Notice
Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

The tiny, glowing orb held by the robed figure.
The boy's focused expression, almost a trance.
The delicate cross-hatching that creates depth and shadow.
The subtle patterns on the figures' robes.
Stand in front of it and listen
The full narration walks you through Illustration for "Peronnik the Fool": Tailpiece — the story behind it, the details most visitors miss, and why it matters. Free in the Art Whisper app.
Stephen Gooden
1892–1955 · United KingdomMaster engraver whose St George design for Windsor Castle became the George Medal worn by British heroes.
Further Works by Gooden
The Fables of Jean de la Fontaine: The Swan and the Cook
1929 · Cleveland Museum of Art
The Swan and the Cook
1929 · Cleveland Museum of Art
Illustration for "Peronnik the Fool": A Bill and a Wooden Block
1933 · Cleveland Museum of Art
Illustration for "Peronnik the Fool": A Gargoyle
1933 · Cleveland Museum of Art
Illustration for "Peronnik the Fool": A Lion Tearing at a Sack
1933 · Cleveland Museum of Art
Illustration for "Peronnik the Fool": Cock Key
1933 · Cleveland Museum of Art
Illustration for "Peronnik the Fool": Frontispiece
1933 · Cleveland Museum of Art
Illustration for "Peronnik the Fool": Peronnik the Fool
1933 · Cleveland Museum of Art
More works to explore
Beyond Gooden: works from the same years.
Same era · 1910s–1940s
Lozenge Composition with Yellow, Black, Blue, Red, and Gray
Piet Mondrian · 1921 · Art Institute of Chicago
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Nude
Ivan Puni · 1931 · Art Institute of Chicago
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American Gothic
Okada Saburosuke · 1930 · Art Institute of Chicago
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Straße mit Passanten bei Nachtbeleuchtung
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner · 1927 · Museum Frieder Burda
Same era · 1910s–1940s
The Indestructibles
Philip Evergood · 1946 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1910s–1940s
In the Magic Mirror
Paul Klee · 1934 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1910s–1940s
The Eye
René Magritte · 1932 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1910s–1940s
Untitled (Desert Landscape)
Salvador Dalí · 1934 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1910s–1940s
Garden Airplane-Trap
Max Ernst · 1935 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1910s–1940s
The Red Armchair
Pablo Picasso · 1931 · Art Institute of Chicago
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Two Women on the Shore
Edvard Munch · 1935 · Munch Museum
Same era · 1910s–1940s
American Gothic
Grant Wood · 1930 · Art Institute of Chicago
