Vierde bedrijf, tweede scène van Robert le Diable 1873 - 1874

This is a stereo card depicting the fourth act, second scene of Robert le Diable, made by Charles Dauvois in France. Stereo cards were a popular form of entertainment in the 19th century and this one offers a glimpse into the world of French opera and theater of the time. The image stages a scene from Giacomo Meyerbeer's opera, which premiered in Paris in 1831 and became a sensation. It illustrates the opera's themes of good versus evil and redemption through its costuming, staging and figure groupings. The architecture and interior design tell us about the aspirations of the rising middle class, keen to associate themselves with aristocratic glamour. The opera itself played a role in shaping French national identity and cultural values during the July Monarchy. Dauvois's stereo card thus provides a window onto the tastes and social rituals of 19th-century France. To understand the cultural and institutional context of such images we can consult theater archives, reviews, and accounts of the opera's reception. The meaning of art lies in this broader understanding.