Design for a Stage Set at the Opéra, Paris: Tree-Lined Road 1830 - 1890

Eugène Cicéri designed this stage set with graphite on paper for the Paris Opéra. The cultural and institutional history of opera in nineteenth-century France is closely tied to the rise of the bourgeoisie, and, of course, to the enduring presence of the aristocracy. This drawing gives us a glimpse behind the scenes, into the material processes that made possible this elaborate form of social spectacle. The evenly-spaced trees and receding road create a sense of artificial, theatrical perspective. The Opéra was an institution deeply embedded in the political and social life of Paris. Its productions often reflected the values and tastes of the ruling classes, even as they occasionally challenged prevailing social norms. Stage design was thus a crucial, yet often overlooked, aspect of the opera’s broader cultural function. By consulting primary sources such as set designs, costume sketches, and librettos, historians can shed light on the complex interplay between art, power, and society in nineteenth-century France.