To cite a painting in MLA (Modern Language Association) style, you will typically need to include information about the artist, the artwork's title, the date of creation, and where you accessed or viewed the painting. The exact format depends on whether you saw the original artwork in person, viewed it online, or found it reproduced in a book.
Understanding the Core Elements
At its most fundamental, an MLA citation for a painting includes:
- Artist's Name: Last name, First name.
- Title of the Artwork: Italicized.
- Date of Creation: The year the painting was completed.
Additional details are added based on the source (e.g., museum, website, book).
Citing a Painting Viewed in Person
When you cite a painting you have seen in person, such as at a museum or gallery, the citation should follow this structure:
Artist's Last Name, First Name. Title of the Artwork. Date of creation, Name of Institution, City.
Example:
Gogh, Vincent van. The Starry Night. 1889, Museum of Modern Art, New York.
Citing a Painting Viewed Online
For paintings accessed through a website, such as a museum's online collection, an art archive, or an educational resource, you will include more details to help readers locate the source.
Artist's Last Name, First Name. Title of the Artwork. Date of creation. Website Name, URL. Accessed Day Month Year.
Example:
Klimt, Gustav. The Kiss. 1907-08. Google Arts & Culture, artsandculture.google.com/asset/the-kiss-gustav-klimt/PjxNn6moHGzZPw. Accessed 15 Jan. 2024.
Key considerations for online sources:
- Website Name: Italicize the name of the website hosting the image.
- URL: Provide the direct URL to the image if possible.
- Access Date: Include the date you accessed the image, as online content can change.
Citing a Painting Reproduced in a Book or Print Publication
If you are citing a painting that is reproduced within a book, anthology, or another print publication, the citation needs to include information about both the artwork and the publication it appears in.
Artist's Last Name, First Name. Title of the Artwork. Date of creation. Title of Book, by Author/Editor of Book, Publisher, Year, Page or Plate number.
Example:
Kahlo, Frida. Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird. 1940. Frida Kahlo: The Paintings, by Hayden Herrera, HarperCollins, 1991, p. 125.
Important Note: If the book has an editor instead of an author, use "edited by" before the editor's name.
In-Text Citations for Paintings
In-text citations in MLA style typically include the artist's last name. If the artist's name is already mentioned in your prose, no parenthetical citation is needed.
- (Gogh)
- (Klimt)
- (Kahlo)
If you are discussing multiple works by the same artist, you might include a shortened version of the artwork title in the parenthetical citation to avoid ambiguity:
- (Gogh, Starry Night)
Works Cited Page Summary
Here's a quick reference table summarizing the common citation formats for paintings:
| Type of Source | MLA Works Cited Format |
|---|---|
| Viewed in Person | Artist's Last Name, First Name. Title of the Artwork. Date of creation, Name of Institution, City. |
| Viewed Online | Artist's Last Name, First Name. Title of the Artwork. Date of creation. Website Name, URL. Accessed Day Month Year. |
| Reproduced in Book | Artist's Last Name, First Name. Title of the Artwork. Date of creation. Title of Book, by Author/Editor of Book, Publisher, Year, Page or Plate number. |
For comprehensive guidelines and specific scenarios, always consult the MLA Handbook or reputable academic resources like the Purdue OWL MLA Guide.
