Naming Your Painting: A Guide To Titling Artworks

how to write a painting title in a paper

When writing about a painting in an academic paper, it is important to correctly format the title of the artwork to adhere to the relevant style guide. For example, in MLA format, the title of a painting should always be italicized, with the artist's name and the title of the painting within the text of the paper. For instance, when referencing Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night, it should be written as Starry Night [oil on canvas]. If the title is in another language, it should be written in that language, with the exact spelling, and an English translation can be included.

Characteristics Values
Title case Capitalize the first word and all nouns, pronouns, verbs, and adverbs
Language Write the title in the original language and include the English translation
Italics Write the title in italics
Parentheses Put the year in parentheses after the title
Artist's name Include the artist's name and the title of the painting within the text of your paper
Catalogue Write catalogue titles in italics and use sentence case for the title
Balance A title should gesture to the theme, inspiration, or concept featured within the work, without giving it away completely

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Italicise the title and use title case

When writing a painting's title in a paper, it is essential to italicise the title and use title case for a polished and academically rigorous presentation. This format is widely recognised and lends credibility to your work. Here are some detailed guidelines and examples to help you apply this style effectively:

Italicising the Title

Ensure that the title of the painting is italicised when written in your paper. Whether you are using the MLA format or a different style guide, italics are the standard way to set a painting's title apart from the surrounding text. For example, when referencing Vincent van Gogh's renowned piece, you would write it as "*Starry Night*". The italics provide a visual cue that distinguishes the title from the rest of your writing.

Using Title Case

In addition to italicising the title, it is important to use title case. This means that you should capitalise the first word and all nouns, pronouns, verbs, and adverbs in the title. For instance, in the title "*Young Girl with Seashells*", each word is capitalised because they are all nouns or adjectives. However, articles, conjunctions, and prepositions are typically lowercase unless they are the first or last word in the title.

Including Additional Details

When providing additional details about the painting, such as the medium or dimensions, you can include this information in brackets immediately following the title. For example, you could write "*Starry Night [oil on canvas], 1889, 73.7 cm × 92.1 cm*" to give the reader a more comprehensive understanding of the artwork. The brackets help to set off this supplementary information from the title itself.

Consistency and Contextual Information

Remember to maintain consistency in your chosen style throughout your paper. Additionally, it is important to include context and relevant details about the artwork to aid your readers' understanding. For instance, you might write, "*Quilting the Armour*, painted in 1947, is part of the Ned Kelly series." By providing this context, your readers can better grasp the significance and placement of the artwork within the artist's broader body of work.

Respecting the Original Title

When formatting the title, it is crucial to respect the original title of the artwork. Capitalise and punctuate the title according to how the artist styled it. If the title is in another language, write it in that language, using the exact spelling and punctuation. For example, Salvador Dalí's painting is titled "*Mad Tea Party*," alluding to "Alice in Wonderland." Respecting the artist's chosen title is an important aspect of academic integrity.

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Write the artist's name and the title of the painting in the text

When writing about a painting in an academic paper, it is important to correctly format the artist's name and the title of the work. Here are some guidelines to follow:

Artist's Name

When writing the artist's name within the text, use their full name, with their last name first, followed by a comma, and then their first name. For example: "Gogh, Vincent van". This is the style recommended by the Chicago Manual of Style, which considers the artist to be the "author" of the painting.

The title of the painting should be written in italics, using title case (capitalising the first word and all nouns, pronouns, verbs, and adverbs). For example: "Starry Night". If the painting has a non-English title, write it in its original language and spelling, and include an English translation if desired. If the title is in a language that uses a non-Latin script, transliterate it (convert it letter-by-letter into the Latin script).

Additional Information

If you wish to provide additional details about the painting, you can include a description of the medium in square brackets after the title. For example: "Starry Night [oil on canvas]". This is consistent with MLA formatting guidelines and demonstrates attention to detail.

Year of Completion

After the title of the painting, include the year it was completed in parentheses. For example: "Starry Night (1889)". This provides important contextual information for your readers.

Series and Informal Names

If the painting is part of a series, write the title of the series in italics, followed by the individual title of the painting. For example: "Potter series, Quilting the armour". If a painting is commonly known by an informal name, you should still italicise this name when writing about it.

In summary, to write the artist's name and the title of the painting in an academic paper, follow these steps: write the artist's last name followed by their first name, then the italicised title of the painting in title case, followed by the year in parentheses, and finally any additional information about the medium in square brackets. For example: "Gogh, Vincent van. Starry Night (1889) [oil on canvas]."

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Include the year the painting was completed in parentheses after the title

When writing about a painting in an academic paper, it is important to correctly cite the artwork. The general format for doing so is as follows:

> Artist's Last Name, First Name. Title of Painting (Year). Description of material. Dimensions. Museum or Collection, City. URL, accessed Day-Month-Year.

For example, the correct way to cite Vincent van Gogh's "Starry Night" is:

> Gogh, Vincent van. The Starry Night (1889). Oil on canvas. 73.7 x 92.1 cm. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. https://www.moma.org/collection/works/78472, accessed 1 January 2023.

Note that the title of the painting ("Starry Night") is italicized, and the year it was completed is included in parentheses after the title. This is a consistent element of Chicago, MLA, and APA styles.

If you are referencing the painting within the text of your paper, you should also include the year the painting was completed in parentheses after the title. For example:

> "Gogh's Starry Night (1889) is a beloved Post-Impressionist painting."

This allows your reader to easily identify when the artwork was created, providing important context for your analysis or discussion.

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Reference the catalogue title, exhibition name, and dates

When referencing a catalogue title, exhibition name, and dates, there are several key formatting guidelines to follow. Firstly, always write catalogue titles in italics and use sentence case. For example, the catalogue title "Important Australian Paintings" by the Philip Bacon Galleries in 2011 would be written as "Important Australian Paintings" in italics. This catalogue accompanied an exhibition of the same name, so the exhibition name would be formatted in the same way: "Important Australian Paintings" in italics.

After providing the exhibition name, include the full start and end dates for the exhibition. For the previously mentioned example, the dates would be included as follows: "31 May to 25 June 2011". The final reference for the catalogue title, exhibition name, and dates would look like this: "Important Australian Paintings [printed exhibition catalogue], 31 May to 25 June 2011".

It is important to note that if the catalogue is accessed online, the title should be hyperlinked, and the date of access should be included. If the catalogue is a PDF, provide a link to the page hosting the PDF instead of directly linking to the document. Additionally, if the title is in another language, write it in that language with the exact spelling, and you may include the English translation afterward.

When referencing an individual artwork within the exhibition, write the title in italics, using title case, and capitalizing the first word and all nouns, pronouns, verbs, and adverbs. For instance, Vincent van Gogh's "Starry Night" would be written as "The Starry Night" in italics. After the title, include the year the painting was completed in parentheses. For "The Starry Night," the year would be 1889, so the reference would appear as "The Starry Night (1889)".

If you wish to provide additional details about the artwork, include a description of the medium in square brackets immediately following the title. For example, "The Starry Night [oil on canvas]". This format is consistent with MLA guidelines for citing artwork and demonstrates attention to detail, which is crucial in academic writing.

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Provide additional details, such as the medium, in square brackets

When writing a painting's title in a paper, it is important to follow the correct style and formatting guidelines. The general rule is to italicize the title of the painting and include any relevant details, such as the medium, in square brackets. For example, when referencing Vincent van Gogh's famous work, the title "Starry Night [oil on canvas]" is written in italics with the medium included in brackets. This is consistent with MLA formatting guidelines, which recommend using a standard font (e.g. Times New Roman), a font size of 12, double-spacing, and 1-inch margins.

Additionally, it is essential to capitalize the first word and all nouns, pronouns, verbs, and adverbs in the title. The year of completion should also be included in parentheses after the title. For instance, "Christopher Pratt's painting Young Girl with Seashells (1965)" is written with the year at the end. This format is applicable when using MLA, APA, and Chicago styles.

When following Chicago style guidelines, the artist's last name is listed first, followed by a comma and then their first name, similar to a bibliography entry. For example, "Gogh, Vincent van. The Starry Night. 1889." If the painting has been viewed in print, a full citation for the source should be included, omitting the medium and location. However, if the painting is part of a series, the title of the series and individual works within it should be italicized, following the original capitalization and punctuation.

It is worth noting that if the painting has a title in another language, it should be written as such, with the exact spelling preserved. An English translation can be included for clarity. In the case of informal or alternative titles, these should also be italicized. Untitled works are written in italics with an initial capital letter, for example, "Untitled."

Frequently asked questions

In MLA format, the title of a painting should always be italicized. For example, if you are referencing Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night, you would write it as Starry Night. Paintings are considered longer works, so they do not use quotation marks.

If you want to provide more information about the artwork, include a description of the medium in square brackets immediately following the title. For example, Starry Night [oil on canvas].

Use the artist's name and the title of the painting within the text of your paper. Type the title in italics and use title case, capitalizing the first word and all nouns, pronouns, verbs, and adverbs. For example: "Christopher Pratt's painting Young Girl with Seashells (1965)..."

List the artist's name first in your bibliography entry. Chicago style considers the artist (or painter) the "author" of the painting. Type the artist's last name, followed by a comma, and then their first name, followed by a period. For example: Gogh, Vincent van.

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