An APA image citation requires: Artist, A. A. (Year). Title of artwork [Format]. Museum/Gallery, Location. URL. Use this free generator to correctly format references for paintings, photos, and figures.
How to Cite an Image or Artwork in APA Style
Citing images and artwork in APA format requires providing the artist or creator, year of creation, title (italicized), media format description in brackets (e.g. `[Painting]`, `[Infographic]`, `[Photograph]`), the institution or museum holding it, its location, and the URL.
The basic format for a physical museum artwork citation is:
APA Image and Artwork Citation Examples
| Type | APA 7th Edition Reference entry |
|---|---|
| Physical painting in museum | Da Vinci, L. (1503). Mona Lisa [Painting]. Louvre Museum, Paris, France. |
| Online digital photograph | Adams, A. (1941). The Tetons and the Snake River [Photograph]. National Archives, Washington, DC, United States. https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/adams |
| Online infographic | World Health Organization. (2022). Healthy diet guidelines [Infographic]. https://www.who.int/diet-infographic |
Key Rules for Image References
- Medium brackets: Always write the format inside square brackets: `[Painting]`, `[Photograph]`, `[Infographic]`, `[Illustration]`. Do not italicize this description.
- Sentence Case: Capitalize only the first word of the title of the artwork.
- No artist: Put the title at the front if the artist/photographer is anonymous.
- Location format: For museums/galleries, write "Museum Name, City, State/Country" at the end.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I cite an image or artwork in APA format?
To cite an image or artwork in APA 7th edition: Artist, A. A. (Year). Title of artwork [Format]. Museum/Gallery, Location. URL (if online). For example: Da Vinci, L. (1503). Mona Lisa [Painting]. Louvre Museum, Paris, France.
What if the image or artwork has no author or artist?
If there is no artist identified, start the citation with the title of the artwork: Title of artwork [Format]. (Year). Museum/Gallery, Location. URL. If there is no title either, provide a description in square brackets in place of the title: [Description of work]. (Year).
Should I include the medium or format in my citation?
Yes, APA 7th edition requires you to state the format of the work in square brackets immediately after the title (e.g. [Painting], [Photograph], [Infographic], [Illustration]). Do not italicize this bracketed description.
How do I cite an artwork viewed in a museum versus online?
If you viewed the artwork in a physical museum or gallery, list the museum name and its location (City, State/Province, Country) at the end of the citation. If you viewed the image online, include the museum details (if applicable) followed by the direct URL of the page hosting the image.
Is this APA image citation generator free?
Yes, this tool is 100% free with no registration or download constraints. Paste the URL of a web page containing the image for smart lookup, or enter the details manually.