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

This design for a stage set at the Paris Opéra was created by Eugène Cicéri sometime in the 19th century, using watercolor, gouache, and graphite. As a set designer, Cicéri needed to be attuned to the material realities of theatrical production. The success of any performance depended not only on the skill of the performers, but also on the crew who realized these painted backdrops. The materiality and making of these objects, often created by skilled laborers, are an integral part of the opera’s overall effect. Here, the texture of the paper support, and the layering of different media, gives an illusion of depth and texture. Although the design might be considered a minor artform, it played a major role in shaping the audience’s experience. By considering the design and production of stage sets, we can begin to understand how social and cultural meaning is constructed not just by the ‘fine arts’ on display, but also by craft and design traditions as well.