A picture riddle was printed in The News Journal (Wilmington, DE) on October 11, 1996:
     
Q: Why did the picture go to jail?
A: Because if was framed.
   
A painting riddle was printed in the Southtown Star (Tinley Park, IL) on January 6, 2008:
     
Q: Why did the painting go to jail?
A: It was framed.
 
     
Newspapers.com
11 October 1996, The News Journal (Wilmington, DE), “Just for Laughs,” pg. NR15, col. 1:
Q: Why did the picture go to jail?
A: Because if was framed.
Nicholas Conte, age 6
Wilmington
 
Newspapers.com
12 May 1998, Los Angeles (CA) Times, “Laugh Lines: Pint-Sized Punch Lines,” pg. E3, col. 3:
Why did the picture go to jail? It was framed. (Ani Yessayen, 11, Hacienda Heights, Mesa Robles School)
 
Newspapers.com
6 January 2008, Southtown Star (Tinley Park, IL), “Shortcuts” by Jeff Harries, comic sec.:
Why did the painting go to jail? It was framed.
 
Twitter
2 Girls & A Cupcake
@2GirlsNCupcake
Replying to @NickCannon
@NickCannon4Real We got a joke- Why did the picture go to jail? Because it got framed lmao lol http://www.2girlsandacupcake.info
3:55 PM · Apr 14, 2009·Twitter Web Client
     
Twitter
Michael Jonathan
@beardymcwhisker
Replying to @johnarthurkelly
@johnarthurkelly @classicbri Why’d the painting go to jail? Because he was framed… for raping a five year old.
12:27 AM · Apr 30, 2009·Twitter Web Client
 
Twitter
Obi Weiner Kenobi
@ObiWeinerKenobi
Why did the picture go to jail?
Because it was framed.
10:14 PM · May 21, 2009·Twitter Web Client
     
Twitter
robert clark
@dadsfavorite53
why did the painting go to jail?  Cuz it was framed
10:28 PM · Nov 19, 2009·Twitter Web Client
 
Newspapers.com
7 December 2010, The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC), “Shortcuts” by Jeff Harris, pg. 6D, col. 1:
Why did Monet’s painting go to jail? It was framed.
 
Reddit—Jokes
Posted by u/Chavez8717 November 18, 2013
Why did the painting go to jail?
It was framed.
   
Google Books
Insults Anywhere Kids Presents
Hundreds Of Kids Jokes They Can Tell Anywhere!
By Franklin Yantz
Insults Anywhere at Smashwords
2014
Pg. ?:
Q: Why did the picture go to jail?
A: Because it was framed.
 
Reddit—Jokes
Posted by u/DahabGold August 18, 2015
Why did the picture go to jail?
Because it was framed.
 
Reddit—3amjokes
Posted by u/cheekyrab October 20, 2016
Why did the picture go to jail?
He was framed!!
     
Twitter
WorkFun
@WorkFun5
Why did the painting go to jail?
It was framed.
2:19 PM · Nov 11, 2020·TForm
 
Reddit—Jokes
Posted by u/rex98rex98 January 16, 2021
Why did the picture go to jail?
Because it was framed.