images of the 20th Century.
Copyright in the United States is life of the artist plus 70 years for works created after Jan 1, 1978 or 95 years from creation for works created between 1923 and 1978 . "American Gothic" was created in 1930 and sold by the artist to the Art Institute of Chicago that same year. As a work created in 1930, its copyright was regulated by the Copyright Act of 1909: copyright was for 28 years (ending in 1958 in the case of American Gothic) and then could be renewed by application for an additional 28 years (ending in 1986).
But the 1976 Copyright Act extended the copyright on any works still under copyright in the year 1977 to 95 years (making American Gothic's copyright extend to 2025). But only if the copyright was renewed in 1958. There is no record that Wood or the Art Institute ever extended copyright meaning it was already in the Public Domain in 1977. Therefore the extension does not apply. The Art Institute of Chicago, which owns the painting states that it is in the Public Domain.
images of the 20th Century.
Copyright in the United States is life of the artist plus 70 years for works created after Jan 1, 1978 or 95 years from creation for works created between 1923 and 1978 . "American Gothic" was created in 1930 and sold by the artist to the Art Institute of Chicago that same year. As a work created in 1930, its copyright was regulated by the Copyright Act of 1909: copyright was for 28 years (ending in 1958 in the case of American Gothic) and then could be renewed by application for an additional 28 years (ending in 1986).
But the 1976 Copyright Act extended the copyright on any works still under copyright in the year 1977 to 95 years (making American Gothic's copyright extend to 2025). But only if the copyright was renewed in 1958. There is no record that Wood or the Art Institute ever extended copyright meaning it was already in the Public Domain in 1977. Therefore the extension does not apply. The Art Institute of Chicago, which owns the painting states that it is in the Public Domain.
