MLA 9th Edition · Artwork
How to Cite An Artwork in MLA 9th Edition
MLA 9th Edition treats an artwork as a containerized work: artist or creator, italicized title, date, and the website or museum that hosts it. Humanities courses usually want an Accessed date for online artworks. “Artwork” covers sculpture and installations too, so the medium wording and collection of record have to stay specific.
Image Citation Generator
MLA Style
9th Edition (Section 5.34)💡 "Copy Formatted" copies with HTML styling so pasting into Microsoft Word or Google Docs retains italicized titles and indentation automatically.
MLA 9th formula for an artwork
Creator Last Name, First Name. Title of Work in Title Case. Year. Website or Museum, URL. Accessed Day Mon. Year.
Italics: Italicize artwork and photograph titles in title case; website names are also italicized as containers. Year position: After the title, as its own element (not in parentheses).
Worked example
In-text citation
(Rodin)
Template: (Creator) or (Creator, fig. X)
Figure caption
Fig. 1. Auguste Rodin, The Thinker, 1904, Musée Rodin, www.musee-rodin.fr/en/musee/collections/oeuvres/thinker.
Special rules for artworks
- Treat sculpture, installation, and mixed media as artworks with explicit medium wording.
- Include accession or collection notes only when they help readers locate the piece.
- If the work is untitled, supply a descriptive title in square brackets.
Source of truth: The collection or gallery of record (museum name + city), even when you found the image online.
Common mistakes
- Confusing the photographer of a gallery shot with the artist of the work.
- Omitting the repository city in Chicago notes.
- Using a Pinterest crop instead of the museum’s object page.
FAQ
How do you cite an artwork in MLA 9th?
Build one MLA 9th reference from creator → date → title → “Artwork” → host. Then paste the finished string into your reference list; do not leave the format field blank or point to a search-results URL.
What is the in-text citation for an artwork in MLA 9th?
Match the creator spelling used in the reference entry and apply (Creator) or (Creator, fig. X). If the artwork is labeled as a numbered figure in the paper, add that figure number only where your instructor’s MLA 9th handout allows.
Do I need a figure caption when I include an artwork in my paper (MLA 9th)?
Only if you reprint the visual. A mention in prose needs in-text + reference list; a reproduced artwork also needs a numbered caption so readers can connect the picture on the page to the bibliography entry.
Where should I look for source details for an artwork?
Start on the object or article page that displays the artwork, then read the credit line, about panel, or download metadata. Skip aggregator cards and thumbnail feeds—they rarely carry a citable creator or permanent link.
What is a common mistake when citing artworks in MLA 9th?
Students often confusing the photographer of a gallery shot with the artist of the work. Another frequent miss: treating a cropped social share as the publisher of record.
How is citing an artwork different from citing a generic online photo in MLA 9th?
A generic photo citation can stop at photographer + site + URL. For artworks, you also have to capture treat sculpture, installation, and mixed media as artworks with explicit medium wording. That extra field is what keeps the entry recoverable.