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

Eugène Cicéri rendered this stage set design with graphite and gray wash in 19th-century Paris. Note the prominent trees and foliage, a stage for human drama echoing scenes from the pastoral settings of classical antiquity. The tree, a universal symbol of life, growth, and connection between heaven and earth, carries profound cultural weight. In antiquity, the tree was a sacred presence, a site for oracles and offerings, and a symbol for paradise. This iconography resurfaces throughout history, evolving from the Tree of Knowledge in religious contexts to a symbol of romantic solitude in paintings. Consider the emotional power of the forest: a space of mystery, transformation, and confrontation with our deepest selves. This design is no different; the artist employs the familiar motif of the tree to evoke these subconscious associations. It acts as a looking glass for the audience. The non-linear, cyclical progression of symbols like the tree constantly evolves, resurfacing and taking on new meanings in different historical contexts.