Citing artwork might seem like a challenge, but it's easier than you think. Whether you're writing an academic paper, creating a presentation, or drafting a blog post, knowing how to cite artwork correctly is essential. This guide will walk you through the various citation styles, providing examples and tips to make the process straightforward. Let’s dive into the different ways to credit artwork and ensure you're doing it right.
Citing artwork may feel daunting at first, but it’s a crucial part of responsible research, writing, and presenting. Whether you’re a student, academic, or content creator, providing accurate citations shows professionalism and respects the work of the original artist. Let’s break down everything you need to know about citing artwork, from various styles to helpful tips for managing citations with ease.
What is Artwork?
Artwork includes any visual creation such as paintings, sculptures, drawings, photographs, and digital art. This can range from historical masterpieces to contemporary illustrations. Whether it’s hanging in a museum or displayed online, it’s important to give credit to the artist behind the creation.
Common types of artwork include:
- Paintings (oil, watercolor, etc.)
- Drawings and sketches
- Sculptures
- Digital art
- Photography
Why Citing Artwork Is Important
Properly citing artwork isn’t just about following rules—it’s about respect and legality. When you cite a piece of art, you’re acknowledging the artist’s intellectual property and avoiding plagiarism. Additionally, citations allow readers to trace the source, which is crucial in academic writing.
- Legal implications: Failing to cite artwork can result in copyright infringement.
- Ethical considerations: Giving credit to the artist ensures their work is recognized.
Several major citation styles are commonly used for referencing artwork. The choice of style depends on your field of study or the guidelines provided by your instructor or publication. Below are four of the most widely used citation styles.
How to Cite Artwork in APA Style?The American Psychological Association (APA) style is often used in the social sciences. In APA, artwork citations differ depending on whether the artwork is from an online source or a physical location.
Format for online artwork:
- Artist's Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title of the artwork [Description of medium]. Website. URL
Format for physical artwork:
- Artist's Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title of the artwork [Description of medium]. Museum, City, Country.
Example:
- Van Gogh, V. (1889). Starry Night [Oil on canvas]. The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY, USA.
The Modern Language Association (MLA) format is used primarily in the humanities, including literature, history, and art.
Format for online artwork:
- Artist's Last Name, First Name. Title of the artwork. Year, medium, Museum/Website Name, URL.
Format for physical artwork:
- Artist's Last Name, First Name. Title of the artwork. Year, medium, Museum Name, City.
Example:
- Van Gogh, Vincent. Starry Night. 1889, oil on canvas, The Museum of Modern Art, New York.
Chicago style is often used in history and the arts. This style has two systems: the Notes and Bibliography system, and the Author-Date system.
Format for online artwork:
- Artist's First Name Last Name, Title of the Artwork, year, medium, accessed Month Day, Year, URL.
Format for physical artwork:
- Artist's First Name Last Name, Title of the Artwork, year, medium, Museum or Collection Name, City.
Example:
- Vincent van Gogh, Starry Night, 1889, oil on canvas, The Museum of Modern Art, New York.
The Harvard citation style is widely used in many disciplines, particularly in academic writing.
Format for online artwork:
- Artist's Last Name, First Initial. (Year) Title of the artwork. Medium, Museum/Website Name, Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).
Format for physical artwork:
- Artist's Last Name, First Initial. (Year) Title of the artwork. Medium, Museum Name, City.
Example:
- Van Gogh, V. (1889) Starry Night. Oil on canvas, The Museum of Modern Art, New York.
Online platforms like Google Arts & Culture and museum archives make it easy to access high-resolution images of famous works. When citing from these sources, remember to include the website name and URL, along with the artist and title.
Example:
- Munch, Edvard. The Scream. 1893. Google Arts & Culture. https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/the-scream/KwF6ZwcqUj8aFg.
When creating presentations, it's essential to include proper citations. You can place the citation in a small font at the bottom of the slide or within the notes section.
Example in presentation:
- Picasso, Pablo. Guernica. 1937. Museo Reina Sofía, Madrid.
If the artist of a piece is unknown, cite the artwork as "Unknown artist," followed by the title and other necessary information.
Example:
- Unknown artist. Ancient Greek Vase. 500 B.C., clay, The British Museum, London.
Reproductions can be tricky to cite because they aren't the original artwork. When citing a reproduction, note that you're referencing a reproduced version, typically found in a book or online.
Example:
- Van Gogh, Vincent. Starry Night. 1889. Reproduced in Vincent Van Gogh: His Life and Works, edited by Susan Watkins, Thames & Hudson, 2002, p. 45.
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
Here are a few common pitfalls when citing artwork:
- Forgetting to include the medium
- Omitting the date of access for online sources
- Misidentifying the artist or title
Keeping track of multiple artwork citations can be challenging. Consider using citation tools like Zotero or EndNote to organize your references easily.
Conclusion:
Citing artwork accurately is essential for both ethical and legal reasons. Whether you’re using APA, MLA, Chicago, or Harvard style, following the correct format ensures that the original artist gets the credit they deserve. Now that you have a comprehensive guide, you can confidently include artwork citations in your work.
