Design for a Stage Set at the Opéra, Paris 1800 - 1900

Eugène Cicéri created this stage set design for the Paris Opéra, using graphite and paper. Note that the material, paper, isn't traditionally associated with high art. The drawing’s graphite marks have a tentative, ethereal quality and the cut-out areas give the design an intriguing, layered effect. The architecture of the Paris Opéra was, at the time, a grand symbol of wealth, status, and power. Cicéri’s design reflects the Opéra's opulent aesthetic, with the archway suggesting an elaborate outdoor space. The intensive labor involved in creating such a design reminds us of the many hands that were required to bring an opera to life. Consider the set builders, costume designers, and performers, all working collaboratively to stage these elaborate productions. The drawing invites us to consider the broader social context of the opera, moving beyond the stage to acknowledge all who contributed to its making.