Art, Films & Books Entering The Public Domain In 2025—From Frida Kahlo To Popeye
Images 237123530 © Rob Lumen Captum, 51502735 © Elenaburn, 147508099 © enchanted _fairy | Dreamstime.com
As we step into 2025, a wave of artistic and literary treasures is about to be unlocked for everyone to enjoy. With the arrival of the new year, a range of works from 1929 is entering the public domain in the United States, while in Europe, the list includes creations by artists who passed away in 1954. This means fresh opportunities for creative souls interested in reimagining these classics or simply relishing them without legal restrictions.
The Copyright Term Extension Act opens the door for numerous characters and stories, including Buck Rogers, Captain Easy, Horace Horsecollar, Tintin, and Popeye the Sailor Man. Even the first Tarzan comic strips illustrated by Hal Foster, which debuted in 1929, will soon be up for grabs. In addition, sound recordings published in 1924 will become freely available for use, allowing musicians and creators new ways to reinterpret old classics.
The original Popeye comic strip was literally a Western Shonen with it’s own power system and serialized plot-
— Saltydkdan (@saltydkdan) May 23, 2023
but some of you guys aren’t ready for that conversation
Dude literally survives being shot 16 times point blank in the chest because he pet a magic chicken pic.twitter.com/msiPccVuuu
On this day in 1929, "Tarzan of the Apes" was adapted into newspaper strip form with illustrations by Hal Foster. It's considered one of the earliest adventure comic strips. A full page Sunday strip began on March 15, 1931, artwork by Rex Maxon. #TuesdayThoughts #tuesdayvibes pic.twitter.com/BYGIaCFSu9
— Historium Unearthia (@HistoriumU) January 7, 2020
The art world is also set to expand with iconic pieces entering the public domain. Works by renowned artists like Henri Matisse and Frida Kahlo will now be more accessible. Matisse, known for his dynamic use of color, and Kahlo, celebrated for her powerful self-portraits, both passed away in 1954, making their works available after 70 years.
The Blue Window by Henri Matisse, whose works will enter the public domain come 2025. Photo 213876655 © Gianni Tonazzini | Dreamstime.com
These aren’t the only highlights—paintings like Magritte’s The Treachery of Images, Salvador Dalí’s The Great Masturbator, and Wassily Kandinsky’s Upward will all be available for public exploration.
Salvador Dalí’s The Great Masturbator, one of the artworks that will be open for public access in 2025. Photo 309635610 © Miro Stefanovic | Dreamstime.com
Film enthusiasts have plenty to celebrate too. Classic movies such as the Marx Brothers’ first feature, The Cocoanuts, and MGM’s The Broadway Melody, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture, will be free to watch, share, and adapt. The public domain status means unrestricted access, making it a perfect time for these films to be rediscovered or even reimagined by modern filmmakers.
The Cocoanuts, 1929, directed by Robert Florey and Joseph Santley.
— Sergio Rodríguez (@Sergiofordy) November 16, 2024
Groucho and Chico Marx.
“Why a Duck?” scene.#MarxBrothersWeekend
“If you find it hard to laugh at yourself, I would be happy to do it for you.”
Groucho Marx. pic.twitter.com/9jDEyrK7xJ
For book lovers, Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms is among the many literary works entering the public domain. Other notable entries include The Magic Island by William Seabrook, which introduced the concept of a zombie to the Western world, and William Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury. Virginia Woolf’s essay A Room of One’s Own and Bertrand Russell’s Marriage and Morals are set to be open for public access, along with numerous other influential texts, from thrillers by Dashiell Hammett to detective novels by Ellery Queen.
It’s worth noting, however, that public domain rules vary from country to country. Just because these works are now free to use in one place doesn’t necessarily mean they are everywhere. Still, January 1, 2025, marks a significant day for lovers of art, literature, and film—Public Domain Day. It’s an invitation to explore, reinterpret, and enjoy these classic pieces of cultural heritage in fresh and exciting ways.
[via Boing Boing and Public Domain Review, images via various sources]
