Stage Set for La Fedra 1800 - 1900

This watercolor stage set for ‘La Fedra’ draws the eye immediately to its symmetrical composition. Two classical columns frame layered curtains. The cool gray stone of the columns contrast with the warm, inviting tones of the red and gold draped fabric. The artist employs a limited color palette, yet achieves depth through subtle gradations of tone and careful rendering of textures. Note how the columns are drawn with precision and detail, indicative of a formal style, whereas the fluid brushstrokes used to depict the curtains evoke a sense of movement, softening the geometric structure of the set. This contrast between architectural rigidity and the fluid softness of the curtains serves to create a symbolic space, where the drama of the stage is both framed and liberated. In doing so, the artist encapsulates the classical themes of the opera. The work is a study in contrasts, with the artist using basic visual elements to construct a compelling semiotic interplay of structure and emotion.