If you are handwriting or typing in a context where italics are not available—such as on a postcard, a whiteboard, or a basic text message—the convention is to underline the title. You would write about Van Gogh’s Starry Night , Monet’s Water Lilies , or Picasso’s Guernica.
Consistency in Artwork Titles Formatting Rules
Therefore, you should italicize it to distinguish it from the surrounding text and signal its status as a major work. However, if that series has an official catalog title, such as Canine Studies: 1972-1975 , the italics must be applied to adhere to proper attribution.
This formatting applies not just to visual art but also to other creative outputs such as books, movies, and albums. Exceptions and Specific Contexts While italics are the standard for published work, the rules can shift depending on the medium.
Consistency in Artwork Titles Formatting Rules
If you are using a very short nickname or a descriptive phrase that is not the official title, quotation marks might be more appropriate. According to the Modern Language Association (MLA), American Psychological Association (APA), and The Chicago Manual of Style, the title of an artwork is considered a self-contained name.
More About Are artwork titles italicized
Looking at Are artwork titles italicized from another angle can help expand the discussion and give readers a second clear paragraph under the same section.
More perspective on Are artwork titles italicized can make the topic easier to follow by connecting earlier points with a few simple takeaways.
