Because millions of free-to-use images are just the tip of the iceberg
Following my previous essay which dispelled the tech-apologists’ claim that publicly available high resolution pictures are hard to find, many of you kindly responded in comments and DMs with links to even more free-to-use picture resources for your writing, 10 more of which I’ve linked below 👇
Disclaimer
Read the fine print before you download an image, as these institutions may also have paid-for, or also host, copyrighted material. You’re looking for the words ‘Public Domain’, ‘No Known Restrictions’, ‘Open Access’ or ‘CC0’ to be make sure you’re covered.
The Open Content Program makes high-resolution images of public domain artwork from the Getty collections freely available, without restrictions, to advance the research, teaching, and practice of art and art history.
Since 2013, over 160,000 images of public-domain art and archives in the Getty collections have been made freely available. Cataloging, digitization, rights review, and publishing of the collections are ongoing, adding more images to the Program monthly.
Jordan Acosta: Note that whilst the front page is well constructed, the search feature looks and feels like it was conceived in 2001. However, once you’ve found something you like, the actual record page is easy to navigate and the images easy to download in a number of different sizes.
Web umenia is an on-line catalog of artworks from the collections of Slovak galleries registered in the Central Register of Artworks.
Here you can find information about artworks and artists as well as articles and thematic collections. Artworks information and digital images are pulled from the CEDVU system (Central Register of Artworks), where they are inserted and regularly updated by the curators.
JA: Slovakia’s digitised art are not only a wonder, but conveniently accessible with this easy to navigate website which has English localisation in the top corner.
The New York Public Library (NYPL) Digital Collections platform is the primary portal for engaging with our digitized collections and their descriptions, over 922,495 items and counting. While that is a small fraction of the Library's overall holdings, it is representative of the diversity of our vast collections—from books to videos, maps to manuscripts, illustrations to photos, and more.
JA: The above link specifically takes you images that are in the Public Domain. If you want to check out the rest of the collection, just note there may be copyright restrictions, so do your due diligence on the wording.
Wikimedia Commons, a collection of 118,508,614 freely usable media files to which anyone can contribute.
JA: This one should’ve been included in my previous post, but better late than never. I am of the opinion Wikipedia and associated projects is one of the greatest endeavours ever conceived by humanity, and their media commons database is worth looking into.
(Raw Pixel / The Art Institute Chicago) Print William Morris, 1883
The world’s best free to use art collection. Sourced and digitally enhanced from our own original works and International museums. Free to use as you like with the CC0 license :)
JA: The above link steers you towards Rawpixel’s free-to-use images which are nicely categorised. FYI, you’ll need to sign up for an account to access the download options.
Our open data program is a natural extension of the National Gallery’s mission: to welcome all people to explore and experience art, creativity, and our shared humanity.
Free open access image downloads are now available directly from the object pages located on this website. More than 60,000 images are available for download, and we will continue to add more as they become available.
Images of these works are available free of charge for any use, whether commercial or non-commercial.
JA: Another very well presented website, but be wary that many of the images you come across may not be available to download despite the fact they’re in the public domain.
(NASA APOD) Picture NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Jeff Hester (ASU), Allison Loll (ASU), Tea Temim (Princeton University), 2025
Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
JA: The daily archive listing goes all the way back to 2015, and what the very utilitarian website lacks in aesthetics is compensated by the vast array of space photography.
The objective of DigitaltMuseum is that museums’ collections should be made available to anybody who is interested, regardless of time or place. It is hoped that it will now be easier for these collections to be used for image searching, in-depth research, studies, education and for the mutual development of knowledge.
JA: The above link will take you to the Swedish version of the digitised collection with filters for CC0 and Public Domain switched on. Note, many of the visual assets may not be in high resolution.
Founded in 1879, the Art Institute of Chicago is one of the world’s major museums, housing an extraordinary collection of objects from across places, cultures, and time. We are also a place of active learning for all—dedicated to investigation, innovation, education, and dialogue—continually aspiring to greater public service and civic engagement.
Explore thousands of artworks in the museum’s collection—from our renowned icons to lesser-known works from every corner of the globe—as well as our books, writings, reference materials, and other resources.
JA: The above link will take you to the Public Domain items in the Artic’s collection, which also features comprehensive information and attribution about the picture. Wonderful.
Paintings, books, music, sculptures, films, photographs, files, manuscripts and much, much more: the Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (German Digital Library) gives all users access to Germany's digitised cultural and scientific heritage.
We invite you to discover the exciting cultural objects from the German Digital Library in new contexts - organised thematically in our dossiers. Find out more about German-German history, explore other countries in the travel dossier or enjoy art and artists in our art dossier.
JA: Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek is a visual aggregator from many different German cultural institutions, and offers a wide range of mediums to explore.
The sum of humanity’s visual culture – enshrined by the copyright system – is currently under siege.
This unprecedented and blatant theft by AI companies to train their models as they war for market dominance is so vast, it literally defies comprehension; so please link and share the resources from these brilliant and tireless cultural institutions who deserve our support and patronage •
Many thanks for reading. The Acosta Dispatch is an occasional roundup by me, Jordan Acosta; a British speculative fiction writer. News, short reviews and more, published erratically.
You can subscribe at jordanacosta.co, and read previous editions, here. You can unsubscribe at any time, and I won't share your email address with anyone.
This essay was originally published on Substack on May 13, 2025.
