What it does
The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Open Access programme supplies images of public-domain artworks and collection data under CC0. Eligible images carry an OA icon in the online collection. Data is also available through an API and downloadable CSV files.
Find the OA icon at the lower left of an artwork image, then use the download icon at the lower right to save it. These images can be used in publications, websites and commercial projects without requesting permission or providing credit. The object record supplies citation details if you want to acknowledge the work.
For a larger collection project, the API returns JSON data and corresponding public-domain JPEG images. The CSV download contains collection data, not the image files themselves.
Not every artwork image on the museum’s website is Open Access. For an unavailable image or a higher-resolution version, the Image Request Form goes to Art Resource, which may charge a fee. Available image dimensions also vary, so the standard download may not suit every print size.
Strengths
- The OA mark identifies images covered by the free-reuse programme
- API and CSV access support projects using many collection records
Watch out for
- Some artwork images remain restricted or unavailable
- Special image requests can incur fees
Best for
- Designers and publishers using public-domain artwork images
Sources
- The Met Open Access programme (Oct 27, 2026)
- The Met image and data resources (Oct 27, 2026)
- The Met image and data FAQ (Oct 27, 2026)