How do I cite an Image in MLA Style?

Answer

Citing Images in MLA Style

(See MLA Handbook, 9th edition: Section 1.7, 5.5.28 & p. 332 for more information)

  • Place tables and illustrations as close as possible to the text where they are mentioned.
  • You must cite the original source of the image (Google Images doesn’t count).
  • For tables, provide a number (Table 1) and a title on separate lines above the table. The label and title are both left-aligned on separate lines and capitalized in title case. Below the table give a caption and information about the source.
  • For graphs, photos, and other figures, provide a figure number (Fig.1.), caption, and source information below the figure.
  • If a table or illustration caption provides complete information about the source and the source is not cited in the text, then no entry is needed on the Works Cited list.
  • If a full bibliographic citation is given in the caption, punctuate the caption like on the Works Cited list, but do not invert the name of the author or artist.
  • See examples below.

Image showing how to cite an image in an MLA paper.

In the works cited page, use the citation from the source where the image was located:

Graves, Allison and Louis Jacobson. “Did Florida’s Stand Your Ground Law Reduce Violent Crime.” PolitiFact Florida, 16 Mar. 2017, www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2017/mar/16/dennis-baxley/did-floridas-stand-your-ground-law-reduce-violent-/. Accessed 15 Aug. 2017.

If you only give brief source information in the caption or if the source is cited somewhere else in the paper, include it in your works cited list.

Untitled Artwork

When describing a work without a title, capitalize the first word of the description, proper nouns, and use punctuation when necessary. Do not enclose the description in quotation marks, or italicize it.

Artist last name, first name. Description of the image. Date of publication. Site, publisher or location, City.
Irving, Tam. Porcelain bottle. 1987. Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
Mohassess, Bahman. Collage figure of a female. 2009. The British Museum, London.

Painting

Artist last name, first name. Title of Art. Date created. Name of site or database, URL/permalink. Accessed day month year.
Van Gogh, Vincent. Shoes. 1888. Metropolitan Museum of Art, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436533. Accessed 11 July 2018.
Van Gogh, Vincent. Self-Portrait. 1888. Wikimedia Commons, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Self-Portrait_in_Front_of_the_Easel17.jpg. Accessed 12 July 2018.
Van Gogh, Vincent. Vase with Flowers. 1890. ARTstor, library.artstor.org.db14.linccweb.org/asset/SCALA_ARCHIVES_1039930559. Accessed 11 July 2018.

Online Images

Creator/Author's last name, first name (initial if known). Title of Art. Date created. Name of site or database, URL/permalink. Accessed day month year.
Stanley, Anthony. I Caught Me A Dogfish. 19 Nov. 2010. Wikimedia Commons, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%22I_Caught_Me_A_Dogfish%22_(5227235642).jpg. Accessed 12 July 2018.
Silver, Waltor. Accordion Store. 1986. New York Public Library Digital Collections, digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/4d6cebc0-ea71-0131-fc6d-58d385a7bbd0. Accessed 4 Aug. 2021.

 

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  • Last Updated Apr 11, 2024
  • Views 114
  • Answered By Alison Norton

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