Citing an image
Published February 4, 2021. Updated November 23, 2021.
To create a reference or citation for an online image, you will need to know the name of the artist, title of the image, title of the website, and URL.
The templates and examples below will show you how to cite an online image in MLA style, APA style, Chicago style, and Harvard referencing style.
Easily cite an image in the style of your choice using the Chegg Writing citation generator.
Citing an image in MLA style
Set the image title in title case and italicize it.
In-text citation template and example:
(Artist Surname)
(Cézanne)
Works cited entry template and example:
Artist Surname, First M. Title of the Image. Creation Day Month Year. Website Name, URL.
Cézanne, Paul. The Card Players. 1890–92. The Met Museum, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/435868.
For more examples and information, view our citing an image in MLA guide.
Citing an image in APA style
Set the image title in sentence case and italicize it. Insert the image’s original medium in square brackets after the title, being as descriptive as you choose (e.g. both [Painting] and [Oil on canvas] are acceptable). Do not use a period after the URL.
In-text citation template and example:
(Artist Surname, Year of Creation)
(Cézanne, 1890–92)
Reference list entry template and example:
Artist Surname, F. M. (Year). Title of the image [Medium]. Website Name. URL
Cézanne, P. (1890–92). The card players [Painting]. The Met Museum. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/435868
For more examples and information, view our citing an image in APA guide.
Citing an image in Chicago style, notes-bibliography
Set the image title in title case and italicize it.
Footnote template and example:
Note
Artist Full Name, Title of the Image, Year, image, Site Name, URL.
Paul Cézanne, The Card Players, 1890–92, image, The Met Museum, https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/435868.
Shortened note
Artist Surname, Image Title.
Cézanne, The Card Players.
Bibliography entry template and example:
Artist Surname, First M. Title of the Image. Year. Image. Website Name. URL.
Cézanne, Paul. The Card Players. 1890–92. Image. The Met Museum. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/435868.
For more examples and information, view our citing an image in Chicago Style guide.
Citing an image in Chicago style, author-date
Set the image title in title case and italicize it.
In-text citation template and example:
(Artist Surname Year of Creation)
(Cézanne 1890–92)
Reference list entry template and example:
Artist Surname, First M. Year. Title of the Image. Image. Website Name. URL.
Cézanne, Paul. 1890–92. The Card Players. Image. The Met Museum. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/435868.
For more examples and information, view our citing an image in Chicago Style guide.
How to cite an image in Harvard referencing style
The title of the image is set in sentence case and italicized. Use “Available at:” before the URL. Include the accessed date inside parentheses at the end of the citation.
In-text citation template and example:
(Artist Surname, Year of Creation)
(Cézanne, 1890–92)
Reference list entry template and example:
Artist Surname, F.M. (Year of Creation) Title of the image in sentence case. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).
Cézanne, P. (1890–92) The card players. Available at: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/435868 (Accessed: 24 January 2021).
For more examples and information, view our citing an image in Harvard Referencing Style guide.
Writing a paper? Don’t forget to include a bibliography.
Citation Examples
Websites
: Website | Tweet | Wikipedia | Blog | Government website | Database | Report | Magazine | Newspaper | Editorial | Article | Journal | Press release | PDFDigital Media
: Documentary | Image | Movie | Photo | Podcast | Song | TV show | YouTube video | Advertisement | Social MediaBooks
: Book | Bible | Textbook | Book chapter | Edited book | Dictionary | Encyclopedia | eBook | Translated BookPersonal Communication
: Interview | Lecture | Speech | Ted Talk | Webinar | Conference | Email | Letter | SurveyGovernment Documents
: Bill/Law | US Constitution | Policy | Congress | Court Case | PatentAdditional Sources
: Dissertation | Archive Material | Software | Syllabus | Newsletter | Pamphlet or brochure | Painting | Play | Statue | Poem | Case study | White paper | Foreign LanguageFrequently asked questions
To cite an image bibliography, both MLA and APA styles recommend that you use the artist’s name, image title, date, museum or gallery name, and URL. Below are the templates and examples of citing an image bibliography.
MLA
Works-cited list entry template & example:
Artist Surname, First Name. Title of the Image, Date. Name of the museum or gallery, URL.
Woodman, Betty. Deco Lake Shore, 2002. The Met Museum, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/493215.
APA
Reference-list entry template & example:
To cite an image with no author, both MLA and APA styles recommend you to use the image title, date, museum or gallery name, and URL. Below are the templates and examples of citing an image with no author.
MLA
Works-cited list entry template & example:
Title of the Image. Date. Name of the museum or gallery, URL.
America Today, 1930–31. The Met Museum, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/499559.
APA
Reference-list entry template & example:
Title of the image [Medium], Year, Month Day. Name of the Museum. URL
America today [Image], 1930–31. The Met Museum. https://metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/499559
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