Design for a Stage Set 1830 - 1890

Eugène Cicéri designed this stage set with watercolor and graphite on paper. The design presents us with a sequence of trees against a pale sky, each rendered with subtle gradations of color that convey depth and volume. Cicéri masterfully employs line and shading to articulate the texture of the bark and the density of the foliage, creating a compelling illusion of three-dimensionality on a two-dimensional surface. The composition's structure is a delicate balance between naturalism and artifice. The ordered placement of the trees and the calculated recession into space suggest an underlying formal rigor that belies the apparent spontaneity of the watercolor medium. We might consider how the work destabilizes established meanings by blending the boundaries between nature and design, inviting reflection on representation and perception in the theater. The artist challenges us to think about space and representation. Notice how the structured arrangement of the trees and the intentional handling of the material serve to reinforce its status as a work of artifice, inviting ongoing interpretation.