Image Requests

The Use of Images of NMWA Collection Artworks

Images of NMWA collection artworks can be used via the following two methods.

1. Use of NMWA Collection Images via the Union Catalog of the Collections of the National Museum of Art, Independent Administrative Institution, Japan

   Effective May 29, 2026, image data for artworks with expired copyright terms in five National Museum of Art member museum collections can be downloaded for free without prior application from the Union Catalog of the Collections of the National Museum of Art, Independent Administrative Institution, Japan (referred to here as the Union Catalog). This Union Catalog contains numerous NMWA collection works. See the Terms of Use of the Union Catalog for details on how to use this system.

   For scholarly use, please also see " Request for Scholarly Cooperation in Compiling Bibliographic Histories for NMWA Collection Artworks "

   For media press enquiries or use of images, please see the NMWA website Press page.

   - Reference material: May 29, 2026 Press Release regarding the National Museum of Art Union Catalog free download availability of 14,063 artworks in five National Museum of Art member museums (in Japanese only)

2. Use of Artwork Images on the NMWA Website (for educational and personal use only)

   Images of NMWA collection artworks published on the NMWA website may be downloaded (right click on the image to save the image) for educational and personal use only. For details on what constitutes educational and personal use, please see the NMWA website Terms and Conditions page.

3. Loan of Digital Data

   For image usage not included in the previously mentioned two access methods, or for the use of high-resolution artwork images, please submit artwork image requests (fee required) to DNP Art Communications Co., Ltd. Contact details are as follows.

For all artwork image requests, please contact:

Request for Scholarly Cooperation in Compiling Bibliographic Histories for NMWA Collection Artworks

The NMWA collects scholarly materials that publish NMWA collection works in order to compile bibilographies for each artwork. That information is available to the public via the NMWA Search the Collection page. If the images you download from the National Museum of Art Union Catalog without specific application are for use in scholarly books or articles, we ask that one copy of the publication be sent to the address below. If the publication is digital only format, or if sending a physical copy is difficult, please send an email to the NMWA contact email address. We greatly appreciate your cooperation with this request and your scholarly contribution to our ongoing research on NMWA collection artworks.

Please send publications to:

[please write on the outside of the envelope: Report of Image Use from the National Art Museum Union Catalog]

• *The NMWA has the sole right to determine whether the received publication will be included in the relevant artwork's official bibliography. The NMWA will not respond to requests for information regarding bibliography inclusion decisions.
• *The NMWA has the sole right to determine the use and handling of received publications. Thank you for your understanding that all received publications will be catalogued and used by the NMWA Research Library.