10 Prominent Artists Whose Works Entered the Canadian Public Domain in 2025
As of January 1, 2025, the works of dozens of prominent authors, artists, thinkers, and cultural figures have entered the Canadian public domain. Under Canada’s current copyright law, works are protected for 70 years after the creator’s death, meaning anyone who died in 1954 now has their works released for public use in Canada.
This opens up a range of possibilities for publishers, translators, educators, performers, and creators. These works can now be freely adapted, translated, reprinted, and shared—without copyright clearance or licensing.
Below are 10 notable figures whose work has entered the Canadian public domain this year, with a short explanation of who they were and why their work remains significant.
1. Colette (1873–1954)
French Novelist, Playwright, and Essayist
Colette was one of the most celebrated French writers of the 20th century. Best known internationally for Gigi, her fiction explored themes of female autonomy, sensuality, and social constraint. Her work is deeply influential in feminist literary studies and is now available in Canada for new translations, adaptations, and critical engagement.
2. Jacinto Benavente (1866–1954)
Spanish Playwright, Nobel Laureate
Winner of the 1922 Nobel Prize in Literature, Benavente was a central figure in Spanish theatre. Known for his witty dialogue and social satire, he wrote more than 150 plays that reflected and critiqued early 20th-century Spanish society. His entry into the public domain allows for renewed exploration of his dramatic works in performance and translation.
3. Heinz Guderian (1888–1954)
German General and Military Theorist
A prominent figure in the development of German armored warfare, Guderian’s writings—including Achtung – Panzer! and his postwar memoirs—have been widely studied in military history. These texts are now available for Canadian educators, researchers, and publishers to reproduce and analyze without restriction.
4. Robert Capa (1913–1954)
Hungarian-American Photojournalist
One of the most iconic war photographers of the 20th century, Robert Capa captured some of the most enduring images of the Spanish Civil War, World War II, and the First Indochina War. His photographic legacy—much of it still under copyright elsewhere—is now available in Canada for curated exhibitions, publications, and scholarly use.
5. Martin Andersen Nexø (1869–1954)
Danish Novelist
Nexø was best known for Pelle the Conqueror, a novel that chronicled the rise of a working-class boy and became a foundational text in Scandinavian realism. His work combines literary achievement with a deep engagement in socialist politics. With his entry into the public domain, Canadian translators and publishers may now reintroduce his work to modern audiences.
6. Sait Faik Abasıyanık (1906–1954)
Turkish Short Story Writer
A central figure in modern Turkish literature, Sait Faik is known for his psychologically rich short stories, often set among the marginalized and working-class residents of Istanbul. His work helped shift Turkish literature toward a more modernist, character-driven style. Public domain status in Canada creates opportunities for new English translations and cultural introductions.
7. Ivan Ilyin (1883–1954)
Russian Philosopher and Political Theorist
A conservative thinker and émigré intellectual, Ilyin’s work has experienced renewed interest in recent years, particularly in discussions of Russian nationalism. While politically controversial, his writings offer insight into anti-communist and religious philosophy in exile. Canadian institutions can now reproduce, analyze, and critique his work freely.
8. James Hilton (1900–1954)
British Novelist
Hilton is best known for Lost Horizon, which introduced the mythical land of Shangri-La, and Goodbye, Mr. Chips, a sentimental novel about a British schoolteacher. His works were adapted into major Hollywood films and remain part of 20th-century popular culture. Canadian educators and publishers can now revisit Hilton’s work for public engagement or adaptation.
9. Zofia Nałkowska (1884–1954)
Polish Novelist, Essayist, and Playwright
Nałkowska was a leading voice in Polish literature, particularly noted for her psychologically complex novels and moral reflections on war, including Medallions, a collection of stories about the Holocaust. Her work combines literary sophistication with historical testimony, and is now available in Canada for literary and academic use.
10. Francis Brett Young (1884–1954)
British Novelist and Poet
Often overlooked today, Young was a prolific writer whose novels often dealt with the changing social landscapes of industrial and colonial Britain. His poetic realism and attention to place provide a valuable window into interwar and postwar British culture. His works are now free to reproduce, adapt, or reprint in Canada.
Looking Ahead
Each year, more historical and cultural works become available to the Canadian public. As copyright restrictions lift, the collective commons grows—making room for new interpretations, educational use, and creative innovation.
These 10 figures represent only a fraction of the authors and artists whose work entered the public domain in 2025. For a full list and to explore more, visit our 2025 Public Domain Index.
If you’re a publisher, translator, educator, or creator and want help finding high-impact public domain content to work with, Public Domain Canada is here to support you.