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

Eugène Cicéri sketched this stage set design for the Paris Opéra using graphite and watercolor on paper. The choice of these materials is crucial. Graphite, easily erased, and watercolor, quick to dry, are ideal for capturing fleeting ideas. The design process itself becomes visible. The sketch reveals the mechanics of illusion, the labour intensive work of creating fantastical environments for mass consumption. This wasn’t just about high art, but about industrial spectacle. Consider the sheer scale of the Opéra, its demands for ever more elaborate and awe-inspiring stagecraft. Cicéri's sketch, light as it is, hints at the vast amount of work needed to realize it. By focusing on the materials and process, we see beyond the final performance, and recognize the broader industry of entertainment.