Theatrical Pleasures, Plate 4: Taken Places Occupied
ca. 1835
Medium
Hand-colored etching
Dimensions
image: 8 7/8 x 7 3/16 in. (22.5 x 18.2 cm) plate: 10 7/8 x 8 7/8 in. (27.6 x 22.6 cm) sheet: 13 7/8 x 10 1/2 in. (35.2 x 26.6 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1917
Accession Number
17.3.888-329
Tags
Art Historical Context
This hand-colored etching, created around 1835 by Theodore Lane and published by Thomas McLean, offers a lively glimpse into the social world of British theater during the early nineteenth century. As Plate 4 from the series *Theatrical Pleasures*, the work captures the bustle and etiquette of a performance venue, with its title *Taken Places Occupied* hinting at the humorous or chaotic moments when audience members claim their seats. The tags noting men, women, and girls suggest a scene filled with diverse theatergoers, reflecting the era’s vibrant public entertainments. Lane, known for his ...