Who painted Aesop's Fables: An Ape and a Dolphin?

Aesop's Fables: An Ape and a Dolphin was painted by Stephen Gooden in 1935.

Where can I see Aesop's Fables: An Ape and a Dolphin?

Aesop's Fables: An Ape and a Dolphin is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

Can I buy a print of Aesop's Fables: An Ape and a Dolphin?

Museum-quality prints of Aesop's Fables: An Ape and a Dolphin are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Aesop's Fables: An Ape and a Dolphin

Stephen Gooden , 1935

Aesop's Fables: An Ape and a Dolphin is a print by Stephen Gooden. It dates from 1935 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1943.135
Credit line: Gift of The Print Club of Cleveland

About this work

Overview

Aesop's Fables: An Ape and a Dolphin, an etching by Stephen Gooden from 1935, is part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection. The work depicts a monkey riding a dolphin, set against a rocky shoreline with crashing waves.

Subject & Meaning

The print illustrates a fable by Aesop, though the specific moral or narrative context is not immediately conveyed through the visual elements alone. The monkey's grip on the dolphin's tail and the dolphin's forward gaze suggest a dynamic, potentially precarious, relationship between the two animals.

Technique & Style

Gooden employed sharp, detailed lines to render the textures of the monkey's fur and the dolphin's scales, achieving a sense of realism. The etching technique allows for intricate, expressive markings, blending traditional printmaking with a modern aesthetic sensibility.

History & Provenance

Created in 1935 by British artist Stephen Gooden, the etching is now held in the permanent collection of The Cleveland Museum of Art, indicating its recognition within the realm of early 20th-century printmaking.