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

Editor: So, this is Eugène Cicéri's "Design for a Stage Set at the Opéra, Paris," made sometime between 1830 and 1890 using pencil, drawing, and print. The rocky landscape makes me think of a romantic drama about hermits living in mountain fortresses! What catches your eye? Curator: Oh, absolutely! There’s something dreamlike about it, isn't there? I see the skeleton of a grand production – the artist’s initial vision before it’s fleshed out with costumes, lighting, and drama. Notice how the architecture almost seems to grow organically out of the craggy rocks. Do you think that was intentional? Perhaps a visual metaphor? Editor: Hmm, it does blur the line between natural and artificial. Maybe it's a commentary on how opera itself builds fantastical stories from real human emotions? The building feels both solid and ephemeral… Curator: Precisely! It's that tension, isn't it? Cicéri, working in the 19th century, would have been steeped in the theatrical traditions that reached back to the Renaissance. Think about the grand stage sets designed to transport audiences to other worlds. This is a peek behind that curtain. Are you thinking of any plays in particular? Editor: I'm imagining the staging for a gothic interpretation of “Rigoletto." I guess it’s fascinating to see how much art went into the art we experience on stage. Curator: Indeed! These stage designs were considered art in their own right, collectible items. And that intersection, the moment art serves to conjure an illusion, always thrills me. The piece’s spirit suggests an unfolding story and lets us play with our imagination, our stories and experiences. What have you gotten out of it? Editor: It definitely highlighted the art within art. I love realizing it’s more than meets the eye at first! Curator: Me too; thanks for sharing your ideas with me!