The Swan and the Cook

Stephen Gooden created this graphite drawing in 1929, the same year he was producing engravings for 'The Apocrypha,' showcasing his versatility across media. Known primarily as one of England's finest copper engravers, Gooden brought the same meticulous precision and wit to his drawings. The fable-like subject of a swan and cook suggests the kind of narrative illustration work Gooden excelled at—he illustrated everything from the King James Bible to anthologies of poetry, always with what critics described as 'finely engraved, witty and inventive' designs. This drawing likely relates to Aesop's fable where a cook, preparing to kill a goose for dinner in the dark, accidentally grabs a swan instead; the swan, recognizing its peril, begins to sing beautifully and thus saves itself. Gooden's training at the Slade School of Fine Art (1909-1913) gave him exceptional draftsmanship, evident in the controlled graphite work here. By 1929, he was at the height of his career, associated with the prestigious Nonesuch Press and taking on commissions that ranged from bookplates for Princess Elizabeth to banknote designs for the Bank of England. His work in graphite demonstrates the foundation of line and form that made his engravings so celebrated.