Frida Kahlo and Henri Matisse’s Works Now in the Public Domain
**Exploring Public Domain Day: A Gateway to Timeless Art and Literature**
Every year, January 1 marks an important celebration for artists, historians, educators, and creatives worldwide: **Public Domain Day**. On this day, an array of artistic, literary, and cultural works enter the public domain, becoming freely accessible for everyone to use, adapt, and build upon. This expansion of the public domain enriches public access to cultural treasures and encourages innovation by lifting copyright protections on works that have met their statutory term limits.
In 2025, a spectacular selection of works by luminaries such as **Henri Matisse**, **Frida Kahlo**, and **Robert Capa**, alongside literary classics like **William Faulkner’s *The Sound and the Fury*** and **Virginia Woolf’s *A Room of One’s Own***, now belong to the public at large. This year also sees the addition of writings by **Ernest Hemingway**, **Mahatma Gandhi**, and **Agnes Smedley**, among others. These works invite us not only to enjoy and reflect on humanity’s creative output but also to build new interpretations, remixes, and projects that can shape our understanding of the present.
### What is the Public Domain?
The public domain encompasses all creative works to which copyright no longer applies. These works can be freely accessed, shared, repurposed, and disseminated without seeking permission or paying royalties—depending on applicable copyright laws in your jurisdiction. Public domain access serves as a societal equalizer, ensuring that significant cultural artifacts can be appreciated and utilized by all.
In the United States, copyright for most works created before 1978 expires 95 years after publication. For works created by individual authors, the rule is life plus 70 years. This year, as 2025 dawns, the public domain welcomes works published in 1929, as well as works by creators who passed away in 1954.
### Iconic Additions to the Public Domain in 2025
#### Visual Arts: The Colorful Worlds of Matisse and Kahlo
Henri Matisse, the celebrated French modernist, once said, “He who loves, flies, runs, and rejoices; he is free and nothing holds him back.” With the expiration of his copyright protections, Matisse’s joyous and vibrant artwork—such as his lush paintings and innovative paper cut-out designs—steps gracefully into the public domain. Today, educators, curators, and creatives can draw from his genius to reinterpret his masterpieces, unshackled from legal constraints.
Similarly, the deeply personal and revolutionary body of work by **Frida Kahlo**, an icon of surrealism and magical realism, is now available to the public. Known for her piercing self-portraits and commitment to exploring themes of identity, suffering, and resilience, Kahlo’s work takes on newfound life without copyright barriers. However, it is worth noting that certain elements of Kahlo’s legacy—such as her name, image, and likeness—remain protected by trademarks held by her estate. This distinction highlights the complexity of intellectual property law.
#### Photography and Sculpture: Robert Capa and Carl Eldh
The gripping wartime photography of **Robert Capa**, co-founder of Magnum Photos, is also free to explore. His candid depictions of the Spanish Civil War, World War II, and the early formation of Israel offer historical insights powerfully relevant in today’s era of global conflict documentation. Similarly, the sculptures of **Carl Eldh**, whose public artworks have adorned Stockholm for decades, are now available for reinterpretation, making his creations ripe for rediscovery worldwide.
#### Literature: Timeless Narratives Entering the Public Sphere
On the literary front, 2025’s public domain offerings include some of the most transformative works of the 20th century:
1. **William Faulkner’s *The Sound and the Fury*** reveals the intricate and often disorienting lives of the Compson family, employing Faulkner’s trademark stream-of-consciousness narrative.
2. **Virginia Woolf’s *A Room of One’s Own*** remains as relevant as ever. This seminal essay, which posits that financial and intellectual independence are essential for women’s creativity, underscores ongoing conversations about empowerment and equality.
3. **Ernest Hemingway’s *A Farewell to Arms***—a poignant wartime romance—provides both an intimate and historical lens into love and loss amid turmoil.
In addition to these classics, **Mahatma Gandhi’s autobiographical work, *The Story of My Experiments with Truth***, offers readers and scholars insight into the lived experiences and philosophy of one of history’s most transformative leaders.
#### Considerations When Using Public Domain Works
While entering the public domain opens up works for numerous uses, there are important nuances to consider. For instance, **trademarks and the right to publicity**—such as protections for a