Artvee: public domain art, in high res
Artvee is a big archive of public domain paintings, drawings, illustrations and posters, neatly sorted, with artist pages and free high-resolution downloads.
What it is
Artvee is a large collection of artworks that have passed into the public domain: paintings, drawings, illustrations, posters, science wall charts and digitized antique books. It's sorted into easy categories — abstract, figurative, landscape, illustration, posters, religion, mythology, still life, drawings, plants and animals.
Every artist gets a page with a short bio and a count of works. Every artwork offers a standard and a maximum-size download plus a short explanation of why it's in the public domain. A Paul Klee we looked at came in a max size of more than 5,000 pixels wide.
Why we picked it
Open-access museum collections are wonderful, but each one works differently and searching them can be a chore. Artvee pulls works together in one place and presents them like a gallery, so it's pleasant to browse even with no goal in mind. And when you do have one — a desktop wallpaper, a print for the wall, an image for slides, a moodboard for a design project — you can grab a good-quality file in a couple of clicks.
The books and wall charts section is a treat in itself: you'll find things like Hokusai's tour of waterfalls and vintage science charts.
Where to start
- Pick a category that matches your mood; landscapes and posters are great openers.
- Open the books and wall charts section — it's the most surprising part of the site.
- Look up an artist you love and browse their page.
- Download one piece at max size and make it your wallpaper.
Who it's for
Designers and illustrators hunting for references and rights-free images. Bloggers and teachers who need a picture without licensing headaches. Anyone decorating a home with prints. And people who simply like looking at art.
Quick answers
Can I use the images commercially? The site says its public domain files can be used for personal and commercial projects, and each work explains why it's public domain.
Is it free? Downloads are free; there's also a paid Artvee Pro option.
Is it only paintings? No — there are drawings, posters, illustrations, science wall charts and whole digitized books.
