Finding Sources in Art and Art History
There are different ways to search for sources at the library. Start with a General Search to search our catalog.
If you're looking for scholarly journal articles, consider using one of our specialized databases below for better results.
Here are some examples of basic search terms you can use in any search:
- Picasso
- Impressionism
- French Art
- Pencil Drawing
To find strong search terms related to your specific topic, try the following:
- Look at the subject headings and keywords of resources you've already found.
- Consult relevant entries in some of the encyclopedias and other reference sources we have available.
Can't find full text?
Click the 
button by the article to get it elsewhere, or to order it.
Using Journal Databases
For a better, more serious search for journal articles, use these databases. They all have significant Art and Art History components, making them good places to look for articles for your research project.
Images in Articles
Images that appear fine in print may not look very good when they have been scanned for electronic versions of articles, or they may not even be included at all. Check if we have a print copy of a particular journal by doing a Journal Title Search.
- Academic Search Ultimate This link opens in a new windowHere you'll find a large number of scholarly and popular publications covering art news, criticism, history, etc. But it's not just about articles. Instructions for using this database to search more than 1 million images are here: EBSCO Image Search
- JSTOR This link opens in a new windowProvides access to full-text articles from a few relevant journals, though it does not have recent issues. On the Advanced Search screen, scroll down and select “Art & Art History” to help narrow your search.
Browsing the Collection
Printed art books are big, beautifully produced, and more fun to hold than an online image. So we encourage Art students to check out the library's print collection. Books are shelved near related books, so browsing the shelves is a good way to search for more sources or to get ideas for a research topic.
Look for Art books on the Lower Level in two different places:
- The regular Ns towards the back of the building
- The Oversize section in the fixed shelves in the middle of the floor.
Here's a basic breakdown of the call numbers that we use to organize art books.
- N
- Visual Arts (General)
- NA
- Architecture
- NB
- Sculpture
- NC
- Drawing. Design. Illustration
- ND
- Painting
- NE
- Print media
- NK
- Decorative arts. Applied arts
- NX
- Arts in general
The Library of Congress has a more detailed breakdown here.
Books
Graphis Design AnnualCall Number: Oversized NC 997 .A1 G75Works by award-winning graphic designers, handsomely presented, updated yearly.
Finding Streaming Video
- Films on Demand This link opens in a new windowThousands of educational and documentary videos from authoritative sources — many about art. You can create playlists and clips and embed these in a Moodle site, or share them with others. Try searching for ‘art history,’ ‘sculpture,’ ‘papermaking,’or an artist's name like ‘Michelangelo.’
- Kanopy This link opens in a new windowAmong Kanopy's thousands of classic films, documentaries, and independently produced films you'll find a surprising number of works about artistic technique, many from the ‘Great Courses’ series. Search on your chosen area of exploration and find films such as the 31-minute ‘Drawing — Dry, Liquid, and Modern Media.’
- Swank Digital Campus This link opens in a new window
Copyright-compliant streaming of feature films, intended primarily to address topics that are relevant to today’s collegiate discussions. Students can choose among movies selected by Augsburg professors; instructors can log in to browse the catalog for other films to add.
Check out our FAQ for questions about public performance rights.