Design for a Stage Set

Eugène Cicéri made this stage set design with watercolor, gouache, and graphite, sometime in the 19th century. Designs like these point to the rise of the theater as a significant public institution in nineteenth-century France. The architecture here references the Gothic style, which was then experiencing a revival, and stagecraft of this kind served to transport audiences to another time and place. The theater played a crucial role in shaping public opinion and national identity, and this design suggests a taste for historical dramas and romantic fantasies. But beyond its aesthetic appeal, the design raises questions about the political and social functions of art. Does it perpetuate a nostalgic view of the past, or does it offer a critical perspective on contemporary society? To answer this, we might explore the cultural politics of nineteenth-century France, and the patronage of the Second Empire. The history of the institutions is key to answering these kinds of questions.