A treasure trove of 20th-century masterpieces has been unlocked for public use as works by art titans Frida Kahlo, Henri Matisse and Robert Capa entered the public domain on January 1st, 2025. The event marks a watershed moment for artists, educators and cultural institutions worldwide.
“This is like opening a time capsule of creative genius,” says Dr Elena Rodriguez, curator at the Museum of Modern Art. “These works can now be freely shared, studied and reimagined by a new generation of creators.”
The release coincides with the expiration of copyrights for several other cultural heavyweights. Popular characters Popeye and Tintin join the public sphere, along with literary classics from Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner.
The timing stems from the standard 70-year post-mortem copyright term for the artists who died in 1954, and the 95-year term for works published in 1929.
However, art law experts urge caution. “While this is an exciting development, users should carefully research each work’s status before commercial use,” warns James Chen, intellectual property attorney. “Copyright laws for visual art can be particularly intricate.”
The Duke University Center for the Public Domain has published comprehensive guides to help navigate the complexities of these newly available works. Their research shows this year’s release includes not just paintings and photographs, but also groundbreaking films like Alfred Hitchcock’s Blackmail and musical compositions such as George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.
For museums and educational institutions, this development opens new possibilities for exhibition and digital preservation. “We can now share these masterpieces more broadly than ever before,” notes Rodriguez. “It’s a vital step in democratizing access to our shared cultural heritage.”
The release represents one of the most significant transfers of artistic works to the public domain in recent years, promising to inspire new creative interpretations while preserving these works’ historical importance for future generations.
- Featured image: Frida Kahlo/Hulton Archive/ Getty Images
