How to Cite a Image or Photograph in Harvard (Cite Them Right)
Learn how to cite photographs, artwork, charts, and online images in Harvard format (Cite Them Right). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.
Harvard Reference List Format
Here is the standard Harvard format for citing a image or photograph in your reference list:
Artist/Creator, A.A. (Year) Title of image [Medium]. Institution/Website. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).
Harvard Example for a Image or Photograph
A complete Harvard reference for a image or photograph, formatted by the official Harvard CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:
Moreau, C. (1974) Study at the window. Toronto, Canada: City Museum of Art. Available at: https://www.example.org/collection/study-at-the-window.
Matching in-text citation: (Moreau, 1974)
Harvard In-Text Citation
Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:
Parenthetical
(Artist, Year)
Narrative
Artist (Year) illustrates...
Key Harvard Formatting Rules
- Put the artist or creator in the author position, then the year.
- Italicize the image title and add the medium in square brackets.
- Name the institution or website that holds the image.
- Include 'Available at:' with the URL and the accessed date in parentheses.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your image or photograph.
- Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the Harvard (Cite Them Right) template shown above.
- Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
- Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
- Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match Harvard requirements.
Evidence and review notes
Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.
CSL style record: harvard.csl
Metadata to collect
- artist or creator
- title, or a description of an untitled image
- year of creation
- medium or format
- museum, collection or website
- URL
Common metadata traps
- Cite the page or collection where you saw the image, never a search engine result.
- Distinguish the original artwork from a reproduction printed in a book or article.
Editorial sources
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I cite a image or photograph in Harvard?
- To cite a image or photograph in Harvard (Cite Them Right), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
- What is the Harvard format for a image or photograph citation?
- The Harvard format for a image or photograph is: Artist/Creator, A.A. (Year) Title of image [Medium]. Institution/Website. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).
- What does the in-text citation look like for a image or photograph in Harvard?
- In Harvard, the in-text citation for the example above is (Artist, Year)
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