How to Find Open Access Artworks at The Met

The Met's collection online includes both Open Access works (public domain, released as CC0) and works that are still under copyright or whose reproduction rights the museum doesn't control. Knowing the difference saves you from building a project on an image you can't legally use.

Use the Open Access filter

On the Met's collection search, apply the Open Access filter. Everything that remains is CC0: free to download, modify, and use commercially, no permission needed. This is the single most reliable signal on the site.

Read the object page

On an individual object page, look for the CC0 / public-domain indication near the image and the download control. If the work is Open Access, you'll be able to grab the full-resolution file directly. If those are absent, treat the image as restricted.

The shortcut in Musist

Musist surfaces this status for you. Every object detail page shows a rights badge, and a Download image action only appears for public-domain works with a full-resolution file — so you never have to guess. Filter the home feed to The Met to browse Met works specifically.

For the mechanics of downloading once you've found a usable work, see How to Download High-Resolution Images from The Met.