Art and Architecture History: Citing Images

Artworks are usually not cited in a reference list. Instead, the information is included in a caption near the image. In general, you need two things. Information about the artwork/building and information about where you found the image.

For artworks the information you need is: Artist first and last name, title of artwork, year(s) created, medium, size, and location or owner of the work.

For architecture the information you need is: Architect's first and last name, title of building, year(s) constructed, and location.

Once you have the information for the artwork/building, you add the required citation information for either a website, a book, or an article. For examples, see below.

Artworks from electronic resources:

Fig. #. Artist First Name, Last Name. Artwork Title. Year. Medium. Size. Location or owner of work. URL. 

Example:

Fig. 1. Jacob Lawrence. Crossing the Bridge. 1975. Screenprint. 19.5” x 25.875”. Art Institute of Chicago, https://www.artic.edu/artworks/189201/confrontation-at-the-bridge

Artwork published in a book:

Fig. #. Artist First Name, Last Name. Artwork Title. Year. Medium. Size. Location or owner of work. From: Author’s First and Last Name. Title of Print Source. Place of Publication: Publisher, Date of Publication. Page or Plate Number.

Example:

Fig. 2. Alice Neel. Nancy and the Rubber Plant. 1975. Oil on canvas, 203.2 x 91.4 cm. The Estate of Alice Neel. From: Ann Temkin et al. Alice Neel. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 2000. Plate 64.

Artworks published in an article:

Fig. #. Artist First Name, Last Name. Artwork Title. Year. Medium. Size. Location or owner of work. From: Author’s First and Last Name, “Article Title.” Journal Title vol. #, issue # (Month Year): page or plate number

Example:

Fig. 3. Abdel Hadi Al-Gazzar. Un Djinn Amoureux. 1953. Gouache and india ink on paper. 53 by 28 centimeters. Alexandria Museum of Fine Arts. From: Avinoam Shalem. "Exceeding Realism: Utopian Modern Art on the Nile and Abdel Hadi Al-Gazzar's Surrealistic Drawings." South Atlantic Quarterly 109, no. 3 (Summer 2010): 585.

An artwork you saw in person:

Artist First Name, Last Name. Image Title. Medium. Year. Size. Museum or place artwork is, Location (if not in museum name). 

Example:

Fig. 4. Mickalene Thomas. Girlfriends and Lovers. 2008. Acrylic, enamel and rhinestones on panel. 108” x 144”. Akron Art Museum.

Check out the Citation Management page for programs that can help you manage your citations and references for larger projects.