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

Eugène Cicéri made this stage set design for the Paris Opéra using graphite and watercolor on paper sometime in the mid-19th century. The opera house was a powerful symbol of Parisian culture, but it was also a social space. This design hints at the grand spectacles mounted in the opera house to impress audiences. The imposing classical architecture is a reference to the ancient world, a popular source of inspiration for operas. The city is presented on a grand scale, its walls towering over the water. The design gives us a glimpse into the world of spectacle and illusion that opera sought to create. To fully understand this design, one could research the history of the Paris Opéra and the social function of the theater in 19th-century France. What operas were popular at the time, and what kinds of stories did they tell? What was the relationship between the opera house and the government? By studying such questions, we can gain a richer understanding of this artwork and its place in history.