Navigating academic writing can be tough, especially when it comes to how to cite an image in MLA style. We've all been there: finding that perfect visual, then wondering how to properly credit it. This guide cuts through the confusion, offering clear, step-by-step instructions. You'll learn to confidently cite any image, from online photos to museum artifacts, ensuring your work is impeccably cited.
What is the MLA & Picture Citation?
So, you're getting into academic writing, and you've probably heard of MLA style. It's super common in the humanities, and basically, it's a standard way to show where you got your information. Think of it as giving a shout-out to the original creators and letting your readers easily find those sources themselves. Citing isn't just about avoiding plagiarism; it's how you build trust with your readers, show off your research, and even join the ongoing academic conversation.
Now, let's talk about images! When we say "picture citation in MLA," we mean formally acknowledging where that photo, chart, or even a painting came from. You'll include details like the artist, title, date, and where you found it; whether it was a website, a book, or even a museum visit. You'll typically cite images in two spots: right there in your paper with an in-text citation or caption, and again in your "Works Cited" list at the end. Remember, if you use someone else's visual work, you have to cite it, even if you've tweaked it or it's in the public domain. It's all about being honest and giving credit where it's due. Ready to see how to cite an image in MLA examples?
How to Cite an Image in MLA Style?
Citing images in MLA style can feel a bit overwhelming because they pop up everywhere! But trust me, once you get the hang of the core principles and different situations, it gets way easier. I'll walk you through common scenarios, giving you step-by-step guidance and examples for both your Works Cited page and how to cite an image in MLA in-text.
Citation of Images as Figures
When you're referring to an image as a "figure" in your paper, like a chart, graph, map, or photo you're really digging into, you'll usually label it as "Fig. 1," "Fig. 2," and so on. This is super helpful when you're treating the image as a key visual element in your work. And hey, while I can't be your image citation in MLA generator, I can certainly guide you through creating those perfect citations!
Number them up! Start with "Fig. 1." and just keep going in order as your figures appear in your paper.
Give it a good caption. Right below the image, start with "Fig. [Number]." then add a quick title or description of what the image is all about.
Add the source details. This comes right after your caption. Think artist, image title, when it was made, and where you found it (like a website name and URL, or book info).
Don't forget your Works Cited! You'll create a full MLA entry for the image's source, just like you would for a book or website, but remember to specify "Image" or "Photograph" as the medium.
Let's say you're using an image of a historical map found on a government archive website.
Scenario | Works Cited Entry | In-text Citation (or Figure Caption) |
|---|---|---|
Online Image Used as a Figure | National Archives. Map of Early Settlements, 1750, National Historical Archives, www.nationalarchives.gov/maps/early-settlements. Accessed 11 June 2025, Image. | Fig. 1. Map of Early Settlements, 1750. National Archives. |
Image from a Book Used as a Figure | Johnson, Emily. The Art of the Renaissance. University Press, 2018. Plate 5, Image. | Fig. 2. Mona Lisa. Leonardo da Vinci. From Johnson, The Art of the Renaissance, Plate 5. |
Image from a Database Used as a Figure | Getty Images. Golden Gate Bridge at Sunset. 2005. Artstor, www.artstor.org/golden-gate-bridge. Accessed 11 June 2025. Photograph. | Fig. 3. Golden Gate Bridge at Sunset, 2005. Getty Images via Artstor. |
My experience with citing images as figures has taught me the importance of consistency. Once you decide on a format for your figure captions, stick to it throughout your paper. It helps maintain a professional appearance and makes it easier for your reader to follow your visual arguments.
Citation of Pictures Seen in Person
Citing an image you've personally viewed, such as a painting in a museum or a sculpture in a gallery, requires a slightly different approach as your access point is physical, not digital.
Artist's Name: (or title if unknown)
Artwork Title: (italicized for paintings, sculptures, etc.)
Date of Creation: (or range/ "n.d.")
Institution & City: Where the artwork is housed.
Medium: (e.g. "Original artwork", "Sculpture")
Let's consider how you would cite a famous painting you saw at a museum.
Scenario | Works Cited Entry | In-text Citation |
|---|---|---|
Painting in a Museum | Van Gogh, Vincent. The Starry Night. 1889. Museum of Modern Art, New York. Original artwork. | (Van Gogh) or ("The Starry Night") |
Sculpture in a Gallery | Rodin, Auguste. The Thinker. 1880. Rodin Museum, Paris. Sculpture. | (Rodin) or (The Thinker) |
Photograph in an Exhibition (Artist Unknown) | Untitled Portrait of a Child. c. 1900. National Portrait Gallery, London. Photograph. | ("Untitled Portrait of a Child") |
I've found that when citing physical artworks, confirming the exact title and date directly from the museum's label or website is crucial. Sometimes, popular titles differ slightly from official ones, and accuracy is key in academic citations.
Citation from Book and Journal Articles
When an image is published within a book or a journal article, your citation needs to reflect the source of the publication, not just the image itself. This means you'll prioritize the book or article's details.
Image Creator: (If known and different from author; otherwise, start with book/article author).
Image Title: (in quotation marks)
Source of Image: Book title (italicized) or Article title (in quotes) and Journal title (italicized).
Publication Details: Publisher, year, and page number.
Medium: Add "Image" or "Illustration."
Here’s how you would cite an image found within a book or journal article.
Scenario | Works Cited Entry | In-text Citation |
|---|---|---|
Image from a Book | Artist, A. N. "Title of Image." Title of Book, by Author of Book, Publisher, Year, p. Page. Image. Example: Doe, John. "Urban Landscape." The City's Edge, by Jane Smith, Urban Press, 2020, p. 75. Image. | (Doe 75) or (Smith 75) |
Image from a Journal Article (with author) | Photographer, P. H. "Sunrise Over the Rockies." Journal of Landscape Photography, vol. 10, no. 3, 2022, pp. 22-23. Image. Example: Adams, Ansel. "Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico." American Photography Review, vol. 5, no. 1, 2015, pp. 45-46. Image. | (Adams 45) or (Photographer 22) |
Image from a Journal Article (no author listed for image, but article has author) | Author of Article, A. A. "Figure 1. Data Distribution." Journal of Scientific Research, vol. 12, no. 4, 2023, p. 112. Image. Example: Chen, Lisa. "Figure 3. Cellular Structure." Journal of Biology, vol. 8, no. 2, 2021, p. 67. Image. | (Chen 67) or (Author of Article 112) |
From my experience, the key here is to determine whether the image has an independent creator distinct from the book or article's author. If so, prioritize the image creator; otherwise, the book/article author takes precedence.
Citation of a Digital Image on a Web Page or Online Article
Citing images found online is arguably the most common scenario today. The key is to gather as much information as possible from the webpage where the image is hosted.
Artist/Creator: (If available; otherwise, start with image title).
Image Title: (in quotation marks)
Website Name: (italicized)
Publisher/Sponsor: (If different from website name).
Publication/Update Date: (or "n.d.")
URL: (from the website)
Access Date: (The date you viewed it).
Images Citations Best Helper: WPS Office
So, how can WPS Office help you with all this citing? Well, it's a fantastic AI office tool that's completely free to use and boasts strong compatibility. It's packed with many features and functions designed to help you write and modify your papers with ease. This means you can focus more on your research and less on the nitty-gritty of formatting and citation. When it comes to citing pictures, WPS Office can simplify the process. By leveraging tools like WPS Office, you can make the often-tedious task of citation more streamlined, allowing you to focus more on the content.
When it comes to citing pictures, WPS Office can simplify the process. While I can't demonstrate it live here, WPS has guides on how to insert citations directly into your documents, which can be a huge time-saver when you're managing all those image citations. By leveraging tools like WPS Office, you can make the often-tedious task of citation more streamlined, allowing you to focus more on the content and less on the formatting specifics.
FAQs
1. How do I cite a source with no author or page numbers in MLA?
No author or page numbers? No problem! If a source has no author, start your Works Cited entry with its title and use a shortened version for in-text citations. For missing page numbers, try a chapter or timestamp. If there are no divisions, you might not even need a parenthetical citation if the author or title is already in your sentence.
2. What if I created the image myself (e.g., a chart, graph, or photo)? Do I still cite it in MLA?
If you created an original image for your work, like a chart or a photo, you generally don't need a Works Cited entry. Just add a clear figure caption below it (e.g., "Fig. 1. Results of 2024 Survey") and refer to it by its figure number in your text (e.g., "Figure 1 illustrates..."). This shows your reader it's your own content.
3. Can I use image citation generators, like Citation Machine, for MLA style?
Yes, you can use image citation generators like Citation Machine or MLA photo citation generators to help create your MLA citations. These tools can be useful for quickly generating citations, but it's always a good idea to double-check the generated citation against the official MLA guidelines to ensure accuracy, as automated tools can sometimes have minor errors.
4. What's the difference between an in-text citation and a Works Cited entry for an image?
In-text citations are brief references in your paper, usually the creator's last name or a shortened title, or a figure number, pointing readers to your full Works Cited list. That Works Cited entry, at the end of your paper, provides all the detailed information needed to find the original image source.
Summary
You've just walked through the essentials of how to cite an image in MLA style, a crucial skill for academic writing. We covered everything from defining MLA and the importance of accurate picture citation to handling various scenarios: images as figures, those viewed in person, and digital images from web pages or online articles. With the WPS Writer, you can easily insert images into your documents. You can also resize, crop, and position images, and add captions directly beneath them, which is crucial for MLA's "Figure" format for both works cited entries and in-text citations, to ensure your research is well-supported, credible, and professionally presented.
