LibGuides: Visual Resources: Home

Image Databases

Artstor This link opens in a new window
Over two million high-quality images in the arts, architecture, humanities, and social sciences. See Getting Started with Artstor Digital Library. You can now search Artstor on JSTOR.
Bridgeman Education This link opens in a new window
Over two million digital images of art, history, and culture from global museums, galleries, private collections and contemporary artists all copyright cleared for educational use. See User Manual.
AP Images Collection This link opens in a new window
The Associated Press (AP) Images Collection™ captures the greatest events in history and brings them to life through photographs, audio sound bites, graphics and text.
Swiss Poster Collection This link opens in a new window
Graphic design excellence collected between 1970 and 2010 by designer and typographer Ruedi Ruegg; donated to CMU.
Wellcome Images This link opens in a new window
Over 100,000 images available for free download as hi-res images, including historical content such as manuscripts, paintings, etchings, early photography and advertisements and 'themes around medicine and the wider history of health.'

Artstor Digital Library

The Artstor website will be retired next year on August 1, 2024, but you can get started with Artstor on JSTOR now using the resources below.
Try the new Artstor on JSTOR experience

You must register for an account in order to use many of Artstor’s features, such as downloading images, curating groups of images, and downloading groups of images to PowerPoint. See above Using Artstor guide for more details.

Artstor Subject Guides

Check out Artstor subject guides, or visit the complete list.

Information on Visual Resources and Digital Image Use

ACRL Visual Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education
Statement on the Fair Use of Images for Teaching, Research, and Study (Visual Resources Association)
Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for the Visual Arts (College Art Association)
Best Practices in Fair Use for Media Literacy Education
Intellectual Property or Copyright Question? (Visual Resources Association)
Information Literacy: Visual Resources video (LinkedIn Learning)
Learn the basics of visual literacy and tips to find quality digital images.
LinkedIn Learning Training Videos and Tutorials
Includes courses for digital imaging and video software such as Photoshop and Final Cut Pro.