Les coulisses de l’Opéra de Paris 1889

Curator: Jean Béraud's "Les coulisses de l’Opéra de Paris," painted in 1889, offers us a peek behind the curtain, so to speak. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by the painting's stark contrasts. The brilliant whites of the ballerinas' tutus pop against the dark, looming stage machinery. The artist directs my eye to a juxtaposition between youthful dancers and mature gentlemen in suits. Curator: Béraud's technical skill is on full display; he uses an Impressionistic touch in capturing light and atmosphere. However, this work reads less like fleeting observation and more like staged genre painting, perhaps a historical account, don’t you think? Editor: Agreed. The staging offers an analysis of class and access. Observe the details—the tailored suits, the ornamentation, and the leisurely postures. These are markers of privilege observing the toil that produces their leisure. Curator: And, as a reflection of its time, it subtly reveals the social dynamics at play, highlighting the opulence of the Parisian Opera scene in the late 19th century, while also subtly presenting this tension within that elite social bubble. Editor: Precisely. Consider also the gaze. The composition subtly invites our speculation on the male gaze fixed on these women, simultaneously celebrating beauty and enacting its objectification. How does Béraud treat perspective to shape the reading of such space? Curator: Béraud employs perspective quite adeptly to draw viewers into the scene and almost situates them within this elite milieu, making the social dynamic all the more complicated to analyze—and certainly much more than simple visual appeal. I would propose we move to our next art work… Editor: Yes, but let’s retain a sense of that spatial analysis, as it reveals subtle gestures towards our current, critical engagements with art history and power dynamics of spectatorship. I see his painting with newly opened eyes.