# Scene from a Play

**Katsukawa Shunjō** (Japanese, died 1787)  
ca. 1780  
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper  
H. 12 1/4 in. (31.1 cm); W. 5 3/4 in. (14.6 cm)

Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, JP1303. [The museum's record](https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/55242).

## About this work

Katsukawa Shunjō designed this in about 1780, aged about 70. It is now at The Met in New York.

### How it was made

- **Colour woodblock print.** In Japan these were a team effort. The artist drew the design, a carver cut it into cherry-wood blocks, one block for each colour, and a printer brushed on the pigment and rubbed each sheet by hand. Full-colour prints of this kind were called nishiki-e, “brocade pictures”, from the 1760s on.

### [Katsukawa Shunjō](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/katsukawa-shunjo)

Japanese, died 1787

## Facts

- Type: Prints
- Culture: Japan
- The artist was about 70
- Real size: about 12 × 5½ in (31 × 15 cm). The 11 × 14 in print is close to life size.
- Century: 18th century
- Movement: [Ukiyo-e](https://www.ochreeditions.com/movements/ukiyo-e)
- Subjects: Men, Actors
- Colour: brown
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/944.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/944/1920.jpg
- Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42; 16 × 20 in $56; 18 × 24 in $68
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138; 18 × 24 in $164
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98; 18 × 24 in $118
- Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3; 16 × 20 in $3; 18 × 24 in $3

Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/scene-from-a-play-met-55242).