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

Eugène Cicéri created this stage set design for the Paris Opéra using graphite and gray wash on paper. Opera houses in nineteenth-century France were highly influential cultural institutions, and stage design played a critical role in shaping the audience's experience. The image depicts an interior space with vaulted arches and decorative details. The architectural style suggests a grand, historical setting, possibly intended to evoke a sense of drama and spectacle. The Paris Opéra was not just a place for artistic performance; it was also a social hub where the elites of French society gathered. Stage designs like this one contributed to the overall atmosphere of luxury and refinement. To understand this design better, we could consult archival records of the Opéra, theater history books, and studies of nineteenth-century French culture. Understanding the social and institutional context allows us to appreciate how art and performance reflect the values and power structures of their time.