Adolphe Appia Drawings and Productions

Date: December 24, 2019 Category: Things

Orpheus, Hellerau 1913 Light can be structural. Appia distinguished between a diffuse light that allows visible scenery, and a concentrated light that models form.

Adolphe Appia, (1862-1928) was a Swiss architect, stage designer and theorist of stage lighting and décor. His theories and realized works transformed the practice of stage design and he had a great influence on the development of performing arts.

His sets and his drawings didn’t look for pictorial realism, their intent was rather to create and underline a believable mood for each scene. Symbols and metaphors prevailed over literal descriptions, as in the representation of trees. The actors and the script were of equal importance than scenery: for Appia, the four basic scenic elements were: Painted Scenery (Vertical); Spatial Arrangement (Floor); the Actor; the Light. “Inclusion of the Actor as a scenic element creates a completely new focus with resonance in modernism”.

The practice of lighting was completely redefined: Appia distinguished between diffused light (allowing visible scenery) and concentrated light (modelling form), believed in the ability of light to be structural, fluid, plastic and “motivated”, eliminated footlights and even created novel lighting positions.

His influence was vast and lasting, and was mainly due to his drawings, more than his actual productions.

Orpheus, Hellerau 1913 Appia’s drawings have been more influential than his actual productions.

Svoboda: Hamlet 1959

Lee Simonson; Saint Joan 1917

Svoboda, Romeo and Juliet, 1963

Svoboda, Oedipus Rex,1963

Wagner: Das Rheingold, Basel 1924

Wagner: Parsifal 1896 Appia’s intent was not to create pictorial realism, but to create a believable mood for the scene. Trees are symbolic, not literal.

Rhythmic Spaces Four scenic elements include: Painted Scenery (Vertical); Spatial Arrangement (Floor); the Actor; the Light Inclusion of the Actor as a scenic element creates a completely new focus with resonance in modenism. Appia redefined lighting practice; eliminated footlights; created novel lighting positions.