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

Eugène Cicéri made this stage set design for the Paris Opéra using watercolor and graphite, materials well-suited to capturing the scene's subtle gradations of tone. The watery consistency of watercolor makes it ideal for suggesting atmospheric perspective, as seen in the hazy mountains and the river receding into the distance. Graphite contributes fine, precise details like the architectural elements of the castle ruins and the distant town. However, what’s most interesting to consider here is not the image itself, but how it would become an image on stage. Think of the skilled labor required to scale up this delicate design to an immersive backdrop, and the many hands involved in the production – carpenters, seamstresses, painters, stagehands, and many more. This design reminds us that any stage production, even one emphasizing illusion, is the product of intense collective effort.