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Cite images in Chicago

Learn how to cite images in Chicago Note 18 style. Use correct templates for authors and formats to reference sources accurately in your writing.

When including any image in the body of your work (including maps, tables, photographs and artworks) you only need to include a caption underneath your image and a bibliography entry at the end of your work.

  • Captions are usually positioned below the image and start with a figure number, using the terminology 'Figure #'.
  • There is no one exact format for captions. What you include will depend on the type of image. For example, artwork captions often include titles, while captions for diagrams, photographs etc. often include a description or explanation.
  • You can refer to images in your text by the figure number e.g. "..see Figure 1" or ..."(fig. 1)".  
  • Spatial indicators where required, such as “clockwise from left”, “left to right” or “top to bottom”, are italicised within parentheses.
  • If you are writing for publication (a journal, conference paper, thesis, website, etc.) you must obtain permission for the copyright owner to include the figure or table in your work and state the permission in the caption.
  • If including images or you have created or personal photographs in your work place a caption underneath however you do not need to include them in your bibliography.

If referring to an image in-text without including the image in your work, include citation information as a footnote.

When to use captions and footnotes for images

Citation format Caption Footnote
When to use it? When an image is presented in your work. When referring to published images, artworks, maps or tables in your writing.
Why? To clearly label and describe the image in your work, place a caption directly underneath the image. When simply referring to a published image in-text treat it as any other source. 
Subsequent mentions in-text

...as shown in Figure 1. 

...as shown by Van Gough (fig. 1).

 ...as shown by Van Gough.2
Include in the bibliography?

No, instead provide enough detail in the caption.

 Yes, include a bibliography entry for each footnote.
Additional considerations

You may be required to create a separate list of figures ordered numerically. Please speak to your lecturer/supervisor or refer to the publication guidelines.

 Footnotes should follow standard Chicago citation formatting.

Caption

  • Images displayed within the text should be captioned.
  • Captions are usually positioned below the image and start with a figure number.
Caption format Example
Template Figure #.  First Name Last Name, Image Title or Exhibition, Year.  
Full note

Figure 1.  Vincent Van Gogh, Sunflowers, 1889.

Figure 2. Eija-Liisa Ahtila, production still from The House, 2002.  
In text

...as shown in Figure 1.

...as shown in Van Gough’s (fig.1) work.  

Bibliography

No bibliography entry required.

List of figures

  • Talk to your lecturer/supervisor if you are required to include a separate list of figures at the end of your work.
  • Ordered numerically (e.g. Figure 1, figure 2, etc.)
Figures format Example
Template Figure #. Last Name, First Name. Title. Year. Medium, dimension. Collection, Location. Courtesy line. Photographic credit. URL or reference information for image source [if required].  
Figures

Figure 1. Van Gogh, Vincent. Sunflowers. 1889. Oil on canvas, 95 cm x 73 cm. Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. s0031V1962, https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/collection/s0031v1962

Figure 2. Ahtila, Eija-Liisa. Production still from The House. 2002. Super 16 mm colour film transferred to a 3-channel video, 14 minute loop. Edition five of five. © 2002 Crystal Eye, Helsinki.  

Caption

  • Images displayed within the text should be captioned.
  • Captions are usually positioned below the image and start with a figure number.
Caption format Example
Template Figure #. First Name Last Name, Image Title or Description/explanation, Year.  
Full note

Figure 1. R. Millist, Hanlon Consols Mine Rokewood, 1902.

Figure 2. Photograph of the Tree of Knowledge, Mt Helen, 2020.

Figure 3. Satellite view of Horsham, Google Maps, Accessed October 22, 2025.  
In text

...as shown in Figure 1.

...as shown in Van Gough’s (fig.1) work.  

Bibliography

No bibliography entry required.

List of figures

  • Talk to your lecturer/supervisor if you are required to include a separate list of figures at the end of your work.
  • Ordered numerically (e.g. Figure 1, figure 2, etc.)
Figures format Example
Template   Figure #. Last Name, First Name. Title. Year. Illustration type and details. Publisher, Location. URL.  
Figures

Figure 1. Millist, R. Hanlon Consols Mine Rokewood. 1902. Photograph. Federation University Historical Collection, Mt Helen. https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/6657ddbecf65d0fdbb77b9eb.

Figure 2. The Tree of Knowledge. 2020. Photograph. Federation University Historical Collection, Mt Helen. https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/6665aaf6d843807ff0204c60.

Figure 3. Satellite view of Horsham. Google Maps. Accessed October 22, 2024. https://www.google.com/maps/@-36.7178288,142.2036103,6555m/data=!3m1!1e3.  

Footnotes

When referring to a work in text provide a footnote.

Citation format Example
Template # First Name Last Name, Title, Year, medium, dimensions, Collection or exhibition, Location, Museum accession number, URL.  
Full note 1 Vincent Van Gogh, Sunflowers, 1889, oil on canvas, 95 cm x 73 cm, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, s0031V1962, https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/collection/s0031v1962  
Subsequent note 2 Van Gogh, Sunflowers.  

Bibliography

Reference format Example
Template

Last Name, First Name. Artwork Title. Year. Medium, dimensions. Collection or exhibition, Location. Museum accession number, URL  
Bibliography entry

Van Gogh, Vincent. Sunflowers. 1889. Oil on canvas, 95 cm x 73 cm. Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. s0031V1962, https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/collection/s0031v1962  

Footnotes

Citation format Example
Template # First Name Last Name, Title (Publisher, Year), Page(s), illustration type and number.  
Full note 1 Richard Sobel ed., Public Opinion in US Foreign Policy: The Controversy over Contra Aid (Rowman and Littlefield, 1993), 87, table 5.3.  
Subsequent note 3 Sobel, Public Opinion in US Foreign Policy, table 5.3.  

Bibliography

Reference format Example
Template

Last Name, First Name. Title.  Publisher, Year.  
Bibliography entry

Sobel, Richard, ed. Public Opinion in US Foreign Policy: The Controversy over Contra Aid. Rowman and Littlefield, 1993.