how to mla cite a painting

In the intricate dance of academic writing, citing a painting adheres to specific guidelines to ensure credit and clarity in referencing visual artworks.

MLA Citation for a Painting

When it comes to citing a painting in your academic work, the Modern Language Association (MLA) provides clear instructions that help maintain the integrity of your research. Let’s delve into the details of this process.

Firstly, you must include the artist’s name in parentheses after the title of the painting. If there is no known artist or if the artist’s name is not provided on the artwork itself, then you should use the title of the work. For instance, if the painting is titled “Mona Lisa,” the citation would be “(Da Vinci 78).” If the title does not provide enough information, such as when an artist has gone by different names throughout their career, you may use the artist’s last name followed by the title, e.g., “(Leonardo 78).”

Next, the date of creation or production of the painting should be cited. This can be the year of its completion or the year it was first exhibited. For example, “(Da Vinci 1503).”

The medium of the painting should also be mentioned. This includes information about the materials used, such as oil paint, watercolor, or digital art. For example, “(Da Vinci, oil on canvas 1503).”

If the painting has been reproduced in your source material, the edition number, volume number, page number, and publisher details should be included. This helps in distinguishing between different editions or reproductions of the same artwork. For example, “(Da Vinci, oil on canvas 1503, Reproduced in Da Vinci: Masterpieces, ed. John Smith, vol. 3, p. 45, New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2009).”

Lastly, the location of the original painting should be noted, which is crucial for researchers seeking to view the artwork firsthand. The format for this is “location: institution, city, state/country.” For instance, “(Da Vinci, oil on canvas 1503, Reproduced in Da Vinci: Masterpieces, ed. John Smith, vol. 3, p. 45, New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2009; New Haven, CT, USA).”

By following these MLA citation rules for paintings, you ensure that your sources are properly acknowledged, thereby maintaining the scholarly integrity of your work.