2006-10-26 12:03:38 · 6 answers · asked by Kristen K 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Visual Arts ➔ Painting
First of all, "public domain" refers to the reproduction of an art image, for example in a textbook or on a coffee mug. It does NOT mean that the actual original artwork itself is owned or seized by the public. So you can own a Van Gogh and have it hanging it on your wall as your personal private property, but people can still reproduce the painting without your permission. Some of the answerers were not clear on that.
The other thing to know is that the concept of public domain is recognized in US law, but is not recognized in the same way in every other country.
In US law, it used to be that a painting entered the public domain after the artist had been dead for 70 years. However, subsequent laws such as the Sonny Bono Act (really!) have extended that period.
It's a complicated subject. For more specifics, check out "Permissions: A Survival Guide" by Susan Bielstein, U. of Chicago Press.
2006-10-26 15:10:12 · answer #1 · answered by Frosty Lemmon 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The painting itself will never be public domain. The image in the painting may or may not become public domain. The answer with the Cornell.edu link may have an answer about when.
2006-10-26 12:39:12 · answer #2 · answered by STEVEN F 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A painting is no different that any other piece of personal property...the public never gets to own it except when a municipality buys it, then the taxpayers are the owners. But rare is that, usually its a sculpture.
2006-10-26 12:44:15 · answer #3 · answered by Victor 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
you are able to recreate the works of the previous masters, as long as there is not any threat that they could be used to defraud or lie to (forgery). The artwork must be of course signed as your artwork interior the form of the grasp. and dealing from a generic image of an unique in demand portray would not infringe on any copyright, as one image of a in demand portray seems in fact the comparable as yet another, nulling any copyright declare on the element of the photographer.
2016-10-03 00:08:42 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't have a website for you, but I think the answer would be never. If the artist is known and alive, then it belongs to them. If the artist is known and dead, then it belongs to whoever owns the estate. If the artist is unknown and alive, then all that person has to do is prove, somehow, that it's theirs. If the artist is unknown and dead, it belongs to whoever owns it, whether that be a museum or private owner.
2006-10-26 12:11:24 · answer #5 · answered by foolery_tom 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
http://www.copyright.cornell.edu/training/Hirtle_Public_Domain.htm
Try this site. It's got some good info.
2006-10-26 12:07:52 · answer #6 · answered by Sabina 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋