Is Van Gogh art
public domain?
Yes. Vincent van Gogh’s original paintings and drawings are public domain. The useful question at the window is which digital file you are taking home.
See verified free files ↓
The short answer
Van Gogh died in 1890, according to the Van Gogh Museum. His original art has passed out of copyright. The U.S. Copyright Office says works published in the United States before January 1, 1931, are in the public domain. Other works depend on their publication and copyright history. For a file you intend to reuse, check the individual image’s rights statement and source as well as the artwork’s age.
Painting, photograph, product: these are different things. The original painting can be public domain while a particular photograph, edited image, book layout, or product listing has its own terms. A print seller can charge for paper and production; that does not make the original painting private property again. The European IP Helpdesk explains the artwork and image layers.
What CC0 actually tells you
The Met releases images of artworks it believes are public domain for unrestricted use under CC0. Creative Commons describes CC0 as a rights holder’s public-domain dedication, while its Public Domain Mark identifies a work already believed free of known copyright restrictions. Those labels have different jobs; neither means every image found through a search engine carries the same status. Read Creative Commons’ explanation of both tools.
There are other rights to consider for a commercial project, including trademarks and rights in people or modern additions. Creative Commons notes that CC0 addresses copyright and related rights, not every possible right. This page describes our source files and a way to check them, rather than clearing every use in every country.
How to take a file from this board
- Open a Van Gogh work below. On a Met work page, select Museum record in the “On the receipt” section to check the museum’s rights statement; then select Download full-res near the top of our page for the image file.
- On a house special, select Get the full-res file. It opens the individual Commons file page: check its public-domain statement and source there before downloading.
- Use the print-size chart on the work page before ordering a print. Its 300 dpi size comes from the source image’s pixel dimensions, without enlargement.
The file is free; a physical print, frame or mat is a separate purchase. Here is how our product links work.
Van Gogh files with a CC0 source
The Met’s Van Gogh pages include the museum record, full-resolution image, and pixel-based print advice. Start with these, or see all 14 Met works →
IrisesVincent van Gogh · 1890Free · sharp to 13.3 × 10.6 in at 300 dpi, uncropped
Road in EttenVincent van Gogh · 1881Free · sharp to 13.1 × 8.6 in at 300 dpi, uncropped
Wheat Field with CypressesVincent van Gogh · 1889Free · sharp to 13.3 × 10.6 in at 300 dpi, uncropped
First Steps, after MilletVincent van Gogh · 1890Free · sharp to 6.4 × 5.1 in at 300 dpi, uncroppedHouse specials from Commons
Each page links to its own Commons file page, where you can inspect the source and public-domain statement.
Quick answers before you print
Is The Starry Night copyrighted?
Van Gogh’s 1889 painting is public domain. For the digital image, use the Starry Night file page and inspect the linked Commons record before reuse. The museum-owned original is not a product being offered here.
Can I print a Van Gogh painting for my wall?
Yes, with a source file whose rights allow it. The Met’s CC0 downloads are an easy place to start. Check the pixel dimensions for the size you want; “free” does not always mean “large enough for a sharp poster.”
Do I need to credit The Met?
The Met says credit is not required for its CC0 files, though a source credit is useful to anyone trying to find the original. Other files can have different terms, so read the individual record.
Source desk:Van Gogh Museum biography · U.S. Copyright Office duration circular · The Met image policy ·Creative Commons public-domain tools