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I have also been to museums such as you mention. The museum stores always have books about their collections, from small to large, with prices to match. I think that these sales are a major revenue source.

My interest is western art, and there are many collections in museums from large to small. There is a certain painting that I am interested in, for its historical representation of my town. There are some lo-res images of the painting online, but he gained his fame decades later.

Would you think that the museum shop where the original is might have such book of his works? Or prints, even if having to order? No, in fact all they sell are coffee cups and other trinkets. Of course they have an enforced ban on cameras and phones, “to protect their works”. There are no exceptions, they claim.

Funny, I was just in the Louvre and several other museums in Paris. All they forbid is flash.

So, those lo-res images? They are sales tool for repro shops in Dalen China. Giclee or oils, your choice. Pick your sizes. Frames if you like. The copyright has expired due to age, but it probably makes little difference to the Chinese.

If you ever wondered where those oils of Renoirs, Van Goghs, etc come from, now you know. Not to mention many unknown artists.

The price for an oil, original size, nicely framed and shipped with the right to approve a proof beforehand, is less than it would cost to visit the museum, pay admission and surreptitiously sneak a pic. 6 hrs one way, so there would be overnight expenses.

I guess what I’m saying is that some museums are not seeing revenue sources. I think they are depending on donors and their board, and they are putting their whole mission at risk if their endowment fails.