"I was researching into Henri Marie Raymond De Toulouse-Lautrec Monfa. He is a French painter, most famous for his melancholy look at the nightlife of Paris. Very interesting guy. I was just looking through image search, because I wanted to see some of his paintings. I came across this picture, the one I'm showing you right now. You notice the Getty Image thing on that? Well, see, that was odd to me that there was a Getty Image watermark on that, because that picture is in the public domain. What? Huh?

See, the thing is, we actually know exactly when that picture was taken. That picture was taken in 1894. Now, public domain law is very complicated, but I think something largely over 100 years old is well within the public domain. Do you want to know how much Getty is charging for the right to use this picture that is in the public domain? $575. Yes, also they are claiming that it was taken in 1934, which is very mysterious, because the man in that photo died in 1901. Interesting, very interesting.

What about this second image I'm including? This is one of his paintings. Notice that it also has a Getty Image mark. Let's check to see if he's still been dead over 100 years? Yep.  First of all, this too is in the public domain, but I looked it up, and I found this New York Times article talking about the legality of taking a picture of art about vaguely this subject. I also found this HuffPost article. Both seem to agree with me, because it's utter bullshit that they would make you pay for this. He's been dead for over 100 years.

Here's what I'm thinking, or here's what I know. I believe Getty Images might be unknowingly, or possibly very knowingly, selling public domain images for hundreds of dollars. I just thought I'd warn people about this, because it seems like a scam to me. If I could, fellow internet people, suggest that instead you use publicdomainpictures.net. Great site, Also, check out the work of artists, I guess, "alleged".