Licensing & Usage
Every artwork page on this site states its exact license and source.
Public domain artworks (most of this archive)
Most of the photography in this archive is sourced from museum open-access programs — currently The Met and the Cleveland Museum of Art — and released under CC0 (public domain dedication).
- Free to use, modify, and use commercially
- No permission or fee required
- Each artwork page links its source museum and accession number
Suggested credit format:
Artwork title — Source Museum, CC0. Via bhartiyachitrakala.onlineCredit is appreciated, not required.
Commissioned & exclusive photography
Alongside the public-domain collection, original and artist-partnered folk-art photography — Madhubani, Warli, Pichwai, and more — is being added to the archive. These works carry their own license terms, shown on each artwork page.
Licensing enquiries welcome — cardiobeat8@gmail.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use CC0 works for commercial or client projects?
Yes. Public domain (CC0) artworks on this site carry no usage restrictions — you can use them in commercial projects, client work, products, or any other context without a license fee or permission request.
Do I need to credit Bhartiya Chitrakala or the source museum?
No credit is legally required for CC0 works, but it’s appreciated — use the suggested credit format on this page if you’d like to include one.
Can I use these images in print or physical products?
Yes. CC0 licensing covers print, packaging, merchandise, and any other physical or digital product, the same as digital and editorial use.
How do I verify a work’s source and license?
Every artwork page links directly to its source museum’s object page and lists its accession number, so you can confirm provenance and license status yourself.
Can I request a specific artifact or tradition be added to the archive?
Yes — send a note to the licensing contact on this page with the artifact, tradition, or museum you’d like to see, and we’ll consider it for a future ingestion run.
This page is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. The license shown on each artwork page is authoritative.