The safest approach to photographing works of art is to obtain the express permission of the original artist. This may be difficult to achieve, and may be impossible because the relevant artist is no longer alive, but without such permission all sorts of problems relating to copyright etc, some ill-defined, may arise. The legal situation for the photographer will be influenced by the country in which the work is undertaken, the nature and location of the artwork, and the attitude of the original artist or their legal representative. The purpose for which images are created and used is also very important. Commercial and non-commercial objectives, although sometimes difficult to define, may also determine whether the photographic work is legal or illegal.