The Death of Imagination

Speculation: Once an image (photograph, painting, drawing) is generated, it can be removed (taken) away from where it was generated. So can a letter or inventory. In fact, the purpose of generating the picture, inventory, or letter was probably so that it could be referred to with more ease (and probably taken) elsewhere. Yes, you are taking something away from the original: the copy that you generated. This sense could be supplemental to the other good hypotheses mentioned here. But of course I'm not a linguist by any means. :)