How to Cite Images, Artworks, and Visual Media in APA, MLA, and Chi...
Master citing images, photographs, and artworks in APA 7th, MLA 9th, and Chicago style with clear examples and a free formatting tool.
The Pain Point of Citing Visual Media
Citing visual media—such as paintings, photographs, or digital graphics—is notoriously confusing. Unlike standard text sources, artworks require details like the medium (e.g., Oil on canvas), the institution housing the piece, and specific copyright attributions. Figuring out how to properly weave these unique details into APA, MLA, or Chicago styles can easily derail your writing process and lead to inconsistent formatting.
With Formatly’s Citation & Structure Audit™, these complex visual media attributions are organized and perfected in seconds, ensuring your visual references are as rigorous as your textual ones.
Artwork Citations: Format Comparison
| Format | Artwork Citation Structure (Museum/Institution) | Example |
|---|---|---|
| APA (7th ed.) | Artist(s). (Year). Title of artwork [Medium]. Museum/Institution, City, State/Country. URL (if viewed online) | Van Gogh, V. (1889). The starry night [Oil on canvas]. Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY. |
| MLA (9th ed.) | Artist(s). Title of Artwork. Year, medium, Museum/Institution, City. | Van Gogh, Vincent. The Starry Night. 1889, oil on canvas, Museum of Modern Art, New York. |
| Chicago (17th ed., Notes & Bib) | Artist(s). Title of Artwork. Year. Medium, dimensions (optional). Museum/Institution, City. URL (if applicable). | Van Gogh, Vincent. The Starry Night. 1889. Oil on canvas. Museum of Modern Art, New York. |
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