A technically available image may still require care in context, captioning and display. Museums and source communities may publish restrictions or guidance for sensitive material.
Check rights and restrictions
Confirm the image’s rights statement, credit line and terms on the source record. Public-domain status does not remove the need for an accurate caption.
Preserve context
Do not crop away information that changes how the object is understood, recolour a documentary image without disclosure or present an object as evidence for an unrelated claim.
Respect living communities
When institutions or communities identify material as sensitive, editors should seek guidance and may decide that an image should not be reproduced at all.
Sources
Links lead to the publisher responsible for the underlying record or guidance. Accessed 30 August 2026.
- Object ID documentation standard — International Council of Museums
- Code of Ethics for Museums — International Council of Museums