When you reference the work of another in your term paper, you should include a parenthetical citation crediting the author or creator of the work and directing your reader to a full bibliographic entry in your reference list. However, citing a painting can be problematic because you cannot reference a specific page number. For this reason, Modern Language Association (MLA) format does not require you to cite paintings within the text. However, American Psychological Association (APA) style does call for a specific citation form for paintings.
Instructions
Citing a Painting in APA Style
1. List the last name of the artist followed by a comma, then list the year in which the painting was created. For example:
Matisse, 1910
2. Enclose your citation in parentheses. For example:
(Matisse, 1910)
3. Position your citation directly after the title of the painting in the text. For example:
"Still Life with Geraniums" (Matisse, 1910) is one of the most exquisite Parisian paintings.
