How To Cite Artwork Mla

Ever been captivated by a painting, sculpture, or photograph and wanted to reference it in your academic work? Properly citing artwork might seem daunting, but it's a crucial step in academic integrity and gives credit where credit is due. Failing to do so can lead to accusations of plagiarism and undermine the credibility of your research. More importantly, citing artwork allows your readers to explore the visual sources that informed your analysis, enriching their understanding of your arguments.

In the Modern Language Association (MLA) style, citing artwork requires specific information like the artist's name, the work's title, the date it was created, and where it's located. Understanding the nuances of MLA citation for artwork ensures you're accurately representing your sources and contributing to a transparent and scholarly conversation. It demonstrates respect for the artist's work and allows others to easily find and examine the artwork themselves.

Frequently Asked Questions About Citing Artwork in MLA

How do I cite artwork viewed in person in MLA format?

To cite artwork viewed in person in MLA format, include the artist's name, the title of the artwork (in italics), the year it was created, the institution or museum where it is housed, and the city where the institution is located. The basic format is: Artist Last Name, First Name. *Title of Artwork*. Year, Institution, City.

To elaborate, providing specific details helps your reader locate the artwork. If the artwork is part of a specific collection within the institution, you can include that information after the institution's name. When the artwork title is excessively long, it can be shortened, but do so judiciously to maintain accurate identification. Always prioritize accuracy and clarity in your citation. For example, a citation would look like this: Van Gogh, Vincent. *The Starry Night*. 1889, Museum of Modern Art, New York. If you are citing an artwork from a traveling exhibition, cite the institution where you viewed it. The MLA Handbook is the authoritative source and it provides further guidance.

What elements are needed when citing artwork from a website using MLA?

When citing artwork found on a website using MLA format, you typically need the artist's name, the title of the artwork, the year it was created (if available), the website name, and the URL. The date of access is also required, as websites can change.

The MLA citation should follow this general structure: Artist's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Artwork." *Website Name*, Date of Creation (if available), URL. Accessed Day Month Year. For example, if you were citing Van Gogh's "The Starry Night" from the MoMA website, it would look something like this: Gogh, Vincent van. "The Starry Night." *The Museum of Modern Art*, 1889, www.moma.org/collection/works/4880. Accessed 15 July 2024.

It's important to note that sometimes some of this information might be missing. If the creation date isn't available, you can omit it. If there's no clear artist listed, consider if it's appropriate to cite the website's institution as the author or describe the work in your text without formally citing it. Accuracy and completeness are key goals in MLA citation, allowing your reader to find the exact source you consulted.

How does the citation change if I'm citing a photograph of an artwork?

When citing a photograph of an artwork in MLA style, you'll need to modify the standard artwork citation to reflect that you're citing the photograph, not the original work directly. You must include information about the photographer or the source of the image, since that's what you actually consulted.

The core alteration involves acknowledging the photograph's source. After citing the artwork's details (artist, title, date, and location), add information about where you found the photograph. This usually involves the photographer (if known), the book, website, museum, or other source where the photograph is published. If the photograph is from a book or journal, follow the standard citation format for that source, including author/editor, title, publisher, and year. If the photograph is from a website, include the website's title, and URL. If it's a photograph you took yourself, simply state "Photographer's own photograph."

Here's a general template:

For example, if you're citing a photograph of Van Gogh's "Starry Night" from a website:

Van Gogh, Vincent. *The Starry Night*. 1889, Museum of Modern Art, New York. MoMA, www.moma.org/collection/works/4886.

What's the proper way to cite artwork found in a book in MLA?

To cite artwork reproduced in a book in MLA style, you'll generally cite the book itself as your source. However, your in-text citation and Works Cited entry must acknowledge the artist and the artwork's title. The basic format includes the artist's name, the artwork's title, and the book details (author, title, publisher, year, and page number where the artwork appears).

Your Works Cited entry should begin with the artist’s last name, followed by a comma, then their first name. Next, include the title of the artwork in italics. After the artwork title, use "In" followed by the author's name of the book where the artwork is reproduced, then the title of the book (also in italics), the publisher, publication year, and finally, the page number where the artwork is located. For example: Van Gogh, Vincent. *The Starry Night*. In Stokstad, Marilyn, and Michael W. Cothren. *Art History*. 4th ed., Prentice Hall, 2011, p. 967.

The in-text citation should correspond to the beginning of your Works Cited entry, typically using the artist's last name. For instance, if you are discussing Van Gogh's *The Starry Night*, your in-text citation would be (Van Gogh 967). If the artist's name is mentioned in the sentence, you only need to include the page number in the citation, such as: As Van Gogh depicts in *The Starry Night* (967), the night sky is...

How do I cite an artwork's label or accompanying text in MLA?

To cite an artwork's label or accompanying text in MLA format, treat it as an unattributed text. Include the title of the artwork (in italics), followed by a descriptive phrase like "Label text" or "Wall text," the name of the museum or gallery (or where you encountered it), and the date you viewed it.

When the label or text is explicitly attributed to an author or curator, cite it accordingly. The format would be: Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Label Text." *Title of Artwork*, by Artist Last Name, First Name. Museum/Gallery, Date Visited. If the label has no title, you can provide a brief description of the text in place of the title.

For example, a citation might look like this: *Starry Night*. Label text. Museum of Modern Art, New York. 14 July 2024. If the label had an author, it would instead look like this: Saltz, Jerry. "Van Gogh's Turmoil." *Starry Night*, by Vincent van Gogh. Museum of Modern Art, New York. 14 July 2024. Ensure that you are precise about the location of the artwork and the date you accessed the label or text, as these details are crucial for allowing your reader to locate the same source.

If the artist is unknown, how do I cite the artwork in MLA?

When citing an artwork in MLA style and the artist is unknown, begin your citation with the title of the artwork. Follow the title with the rest of the standard information you would include, such as the location (museum, website, etc.), and the year.

MLA prioritizes identifying information for readers to locate the source. When the artist is unknown, the title becomes the primary identifier. It takes the place of the artist's name at the beginning of the citation. It's important to retain all other details about the artwork – such as where it is housed, the date it was created (if known), and the medium used – as these details help to distinguish the artwork from others with similar titles. If the artwork is found online, include the website name and the URL.

For example, let's say you are citing an untitled Roman mosaic housed in the British Museum. Your citation might look something like this: *Mosaic pavement with geometric designs*. British Museum, London. If the mosaic was found on a website, your citation would adapt slightly to include the website and URL. For example: *Mosaic pavement with geometric designs*. British Museum, www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/Y_1866-1229-84. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

Does the location of the artwork affect the MLA citation format?

Yes, the location of the artwork significantly affects the MLA citation format. The citation must provide enough information for the reader to locate the artwork, so the specific details included change depending on whether you viewed the artwork in person at a museum, in a book, or online.

When citing artwork viewed in person at a museum or gallery, your citation should include the artist's name, the title of the artwork, the year it was created, the medium used, and the name of the institution where it is housed, followed by the city in which the institution is located. If you viewed a reproduction of the artwork in a book or catalogue, you would cite the book or catalogue as your source, including the artist's name and artwork title within that citation. For online images, you need to include the artist's name, artwork title, the website name, and the URL.

Essentially, the MLA citation aims to guide your reader to the specific source you used to view the artwork. Therefore, different locations necessitate different citation elements to ensure accuracy and replicability. Leaving out location information will hinder the reader's ability to verify your source, which is a core principle of academic citation.

And that's it! Hopefully, you've now got a handle on citing artwork in MLA style. Thanks for reading, and good luck with your research! Feel free to stop by again if you need a refresher or have any more citation questions. We're always here to help!