Design for a Stage Set 1830 - 1890

This is Eugène Cicéri's "Design for a Stage Set." Cicéri was a prominent stage designer in 19th century France, at a time when Paris was the center of the performing arts. The design offers us a glimpse into the world of theater and spectacle of that era. It reveals the architecture of power and illusion central to the experience of the 19th-century stage. It calls to mind the relationship between the performers, who were often from working-class backgrounds, and the aristocratic settings in which they were placed. The design hints at the complex dynamics of class, performance, and perception that defined the theatrical experience. There is an emotional resonance to the drawing. It invites us to reflect on our own roles and the stages on which we perform our identities. In Cicéri's drawing, we are reminded of the transformative power of theater and its capacity to mirror and shape society.