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

Eugène Cicéri created this stage set design for the Paris Opéra using graphite and watercolor on paper. The grid, a structural element in the composition, divides the scenic landscape into measurable sections, controlling the representation. Note how Cicéri uses thin lines to sketch mountains, water, and distant architectural details. The cool, muted tones of gray and blue create a sense of atmospheric perspective, adding depth to the scene. The grid, however, flattens the image and reminds us that this is a construction. It is a design, not a window onto the world. The superimposition of the grid on the landscape reflects a tension between nature and artifice, typical of stage design. The numbers and marks above the grid suggest a mathematical approach to scenic construction. The addition of small touches of watercolor—a yellow sun, a reddish blotch—introduces subtle coloristic elements. These compositional choices reflect the artist's desire to bring structure and order to the natural world, turning it into a controlled spectacle for the opera.