Design for a Stage Set at the Opéra, Paris 1828 - 1890

Eugène Cicéri drafted this stage set design for the Paris Opéra using graphite on paper. The linear perspective, combined with the monochromatic range of grey, cultivates a tranquil distance, pulling you into the scene's vastness. Cicéri’s use of a grid is immediately apparent. It’s a fascinating superimposition that reveals the underlying structure of the composition. The design is divided into precise intervals. This grid may represent a systematized view of nature, turning the organic into something measured and controlled. The eye deciphers the relationship between representation and abstraction, between natural scenery and constructed space. The hazy lines and blurred details suggest a dreamlike state. The lack of sharp definition and the subtle tonal gradations work together, enhancing the scene's ethereal quality. It's a stage set, yet also an exercise in structured seeing, inviting us to consider how art mediates our perception of the world.