The short version: Smithsonian Open Access, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Rijksmuseum, the New York Public Library, the Library of Congress, NASA and Wikimedia Commons are the best places to get public domain images in 2026. Each lets you download and reuse huge numbers of images without asking, but each also has a few items or logos that sit outside the free deal.
Public domain images are the most underused free resource in marketing. While everyone else is using the same stock photos, museums and libraries have opened millions of paintings, prints, photos, maps and illustrations for anyone to reuse, often in high resolution. They're perfect for blog headers, slides and newsletters when you want something nobody else has.
Seven places to find public domain images
In no particular order:
- Smithsonian Open Access: best for sheer scale, with 2D and 3D items across science, history and art.
- Art Institute of Chicago: best for fine art you can filter to public domain in one search.
- Rijksmuseum: best for Dutch masters and decorative art, much of it free for any use.
- New York Public Library: best for prints, maps, photos and historical ephemera.
- Library of Congress: best for curated themed sets of rights-free images.
- NASA: best for space and Earth imagery.
- Wikimedia Commons: best for everything else, with a licence on each file.
Public domain image sources side by side
| Source | Best for | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Smithsonian Open Access | Scale | More than 5.2 million 2D and 3D items |
| Art Institute of Chicago | Fine art | CC0 images, with a requested caption |
| Rijksmuseum | Dutch art | Some objects are still under copyright |
| New York Public Library | Prints and maps | More than 180,000 public domain items |
| Library of Congress | Themed sets | More than 100 rights-free sets |
| NASA | Space imagery | The NASA logo isn't public domain |
| Wikimedia Commons | Everything else | Each file has its own licence |
Collections grow and terms can change, so check the object page before you publish.
Smithsonian, the Art Institute and the Rijksmuseum
Smithsonian Open Access says you can download, share and reuse millions of its images right now, without asking, and that you have access to more than 5.2 million 2D and 3D digital items from its collections. That covers natural history, aircraft, portraits, design and much more, so it's my first stop for anything that isn't fine art.
The Art Institute of Chicago offers free, unrestricted use of over 50,000 images of works believed to be in the public domain, under a Creative Commons Zero designation. Type public domain or CC0 into its search and you get the full list. It does ask you to include a caption with the artist and title details shown on each object page, which is good manners anyway.
The Rijksmuseum's policy says much of the information and data on its collection website can be freely used, including for commercial purposes, without asking permission, and you'll see a Public Domain or CC0 note under the copyright notice. The New York Public Library says more than 180,000 items in its Digital Collections are in the public domain and can be downloaded in the highest resolution available. The Library of Congress has more than 100 Free to Use and Reuse sets, which are ideal when you want a ready-made theme.
Free doesn't cover every logo or object
Here's where people slip. The Rijksmuseum notes that its collection website also contains material that isn't freely available, such as photographs of objects still under copyright. So the same site can hold a free Rembrandt and a protected modern piece, and only the note on each object page tells you which.
NASA is the other classic trap. Its guidelines say NASA content generally isn't subject to copyright in the United States and can be used factually without implying endorsement. But the NASA insignia, logotype and identifiers are not in the public domain, and NASA sometimes uses third-party material marked with the holder's name, which you'd need permission to reuse. A planet photo is fine; the NASA logo on your product isn't.
Finding and using an image safely
- Search the collection with the public domain or CC0 filter switched on.
- Open the object page and read the rights note under the image.
- Download the largest file available so it holds up in print.
- Add a caption with the artist, title and institution where it's requested.
- Avoid logos, insignia and anything marked with a third party's copyright.
- Keep a note of the source page in case anyone asks later.
Blog headers, slides and newsletters
Public domain art makes striking blog headers, slide backgrounds, newsletter images and printed materials. If you want to crop or recolour an image first, my roundup of free photo editing software will help, and if nothing old fits, here's where to create AI images for free. For the other side of copyright, see whether blog posts are protected by copyright.
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My take: start with the Smithsonian and the Art Institute, credit generously, and read the rights note on every single object. Two seconds of checking keeps a free image free.
Run a free public domain image site that belongs on this list? See how to get it featured.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find public domain images?
Smithsonian Open Access, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Rijksmuseum, the New York Public Library, the Library of Congress, NASA and Wikimedia Commons all offer large collections of public domain or free-to-use images.
Can I use public domain images commercially?
Generally yes. The Rijksmuseum, for example, says much of its collection data can be used freely, including for commercial purposes, without asking permission. Always check the rights note on the object page.
Do I need to credit public domain images?
Not always, but some institutions ask. The Art Institute of Chicago requests a caption with the artist and title details from the object page.
Are NASA images public domain?
NASA says its content generally isn't subject to copyright in the United States. The NASA insignia, logotype and identifiers are not in the public domain, and third-party material on NASA sites may be copyrighted.
How many images does Smithsonian Open Access have?
The Smithsonian says Open Access gives you access to more than 5.2 million 2D and 3D digital items from its collections.
