Design for a Stage Set at the Opéra, Paris 1830 - 1890

This is a stage set design for the Opéra in Paris, created by Eugène Cicéri using graphite and paper. Notice the grid-like structure underpinning the sketch. This isn't just a drawing, but a technical plan, meant for translation into a large-scale theatrical set. Consider the labor implicit in this image; not only Cicéri’s own hand, trained in perspective and architectural detail, but also the many hands required to build and paint the scenery he imagined. It's a reminder that stagecraft is a collaborative endeavor, bridging artistry and industrial production. The architecture evokes a classical past but the cut-and-paste assembly and delicate lines reveal the scene's artifice. This interplay between illusion and reality is heightened by its material existence. The drawing speaks volumes about the theater's social role, offering a space where spectacle and craftsmanship converge.