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

Eugène Cicéri designed this stage set for the Paris Opéra using graphite and gray wash on paper. As a designer during the 19th century, Cicéri helped construct an important element of the theater, which was then a central institution in Parisian society. The Opéra played a vital role in shaping cultural norms. Its elaborate sets and costumes, of which this drawing is a preparation, created an atmosphere of grandeur and spectacle. This design, with its columns, ornamentation, and implied depth, suggests the kind of scenery that would have transported audiences. But it also reinforced social hierarchies. The opulence on display was meant for a select audience, thus, mirroring and perpetuating the class divisions of the time. To understand this design fully, research into the Opéra’s history, its patronage, and the social context of theatrical productions would be necessary. This artwork reminds us that even seemingly decorative designs can reveal the power dynamics embedded within cultural institutions.