When using images in your research, you will likely need to cite them. Although this can be difficult in the internet age, you should make some effort to track down the original image, or use only images whose source you can find. There are many image collections online that provide the information needed to cite the image.
Wikimedia, for example, often provides a summary with its images. The information included in this summary is often referred to as metadata.
In this example, the file name is also the name of the portrait. The metadata includes the artist, title, and date, which will help when citing the picture.
It also includes licensing information, which is necessary when determining whether or not you can use the image in a project.
Note that sites like Wikimedia are collaborative, and can be changed by individuals who are not experts in the field, so always verify information when needed.
Citation for this image in APA:
Citation for this image in MLA:
Most images will use the following APA citation format:
If the image does not have a creator, you can use the following format.
Note: In the case of most images you find online, cite the type of image as [digital image]. Only use [photograph] or [painting] if you are referencing a physical piece of art you could hold in your hands (even if you aren't allowed to touch it). If the image is viewed in person, use the location instead of the website or book title. For example: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles.
Most images will use the following MLA citation format:
If the image does not have a creator, you can use the following format.
Note: If the image is viewed in person, use the location instead of the website or book title. For example: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles.