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

Eugène Cicéri designed this stage set at the Opéra in Paris using watercolor and graphite on paper. Cicéri was a prominent stage designer during a time when Paris was a center for the arts and entertainment, as well as colonialism. The design depicts a romanticized and exoticized landscape featuring tropical vegetation. In the 19th century, the Opéra served as a space for cultural expression and was also a reflection of French society's attitudes and values. Productions often reinforced stereotypes about non-Western cultures. This design speaks to the broader phenomenon of Orientalism, where the "Orient" was imagined as a place of mystery and allure. The exoticized landscape would have transported audiences to faraway lands. Consider how this set design shapes our understanding and perception of different cultures. It reminds us to examine the power dynamics embedded in artistic representations.