Fan leaf showing the interior of an opera house

This fan presents a historicized view of the interior of an opera house. Audience members are dressed in the early seventeenth-century style of Louis XIII’s court, though certain details—particularly the women’s hairstyles and voluminous sleeves—recall fashions of the 1830s and 1840s, when the fan was made. They watch a production with sets and costumes in a Gothic style. Curiously, the whole scene appears set on a stage, enhancing the theatricality of the composition. The use of stipple technique to give tone to the faces makes them stand out against the linear engraving, emphasizing that the opera house was a place for audiences to watch not just the performance but also one another.