Empty Stage 1800 - 1900

This drawing, "Empty Stage," now at the Met, offers a glimpse into the architecture and social dynamics of a theater, most likely made in the 1700s or 1800s. Created with pen and brown ink, it depicts a multi-tiered theater, filled with an audience, awaiting a performance that never begins. The drawing illustrates the social hierarchy inherent in theater spaces. Wealthier patrons occupy the boxes, while others fill the lower levels. What stories do these spaces create and what stories do they exclude? Whose voices are amplified, and whose are silenced? The empty stage is a potent symbol. It invites reflection on the narratives that are presented—and who gets to tell them. It invites the viewer to consider the power dynamics inherent in representation and the ongoing struggle for marginalized voices to take center stage. What does this stage mean to you?