As you begin finding information about your topic, don't just think about the content (words, imagery, sound, etc.).
Also think about:
When you begin researching a topic, start at the level of your current knowledge about it. Maybe you've been studying facets of this topic for years, in which case you might not need to do much background reading and can jump right to resources intended for an informed, specialized audience.
If you're new to a topic, going right to dense books and academic articles isn't a great idea -- instead, spend some time gathering basic facts aimed at a general audience.
Wikipedia is always a good starting place. Also try:
A keyword search will give you results where your search terms appear anywhere in the record (title, author, subject, description, etc.). This is usually the best option for searching.
Select title search if you are sure of the title you are looking for
Select author to see all titles in the FLO library collections by a specific person
A subject search will show all FLO titles on a given subject. The subject headings are defined by the Library of Congress; you might try finding a term in their subject headings database before plugging it into the FLO catalog.
The following databases are recommended for finding scholarly articles, exhibition reviews, and book reviews. Searching databases is a great way to find a diversity of opinions and scholarly interpretations of a given topic.
Access to databases through Tufts's Tisch Library
If you do not yet have remote access to online resources through the Tisch Library:
Database Search Tips
Database searches are most successful when you use precise and specific search terms:
Unlike Google, most databases aren't great at guessing what you mean. You may need to spend some time trying out different search terms.
If you've never used Art Source or JSTOR, or could use a refresher, check out these interactive tutorials:
Exhibition Catalogs and Artist Monographs
Print books are still one of the best places to find high-quality images with factually reliable information. When looking for art images, exhibition catalogs and artist monographs are great resources.
Artstor
The SMFA Library provides access to Artstor (linked below), a great resource for art images.
Please note that to use this resource outside the Library, you must set up an account on a Library computer.
Publicly Available Image Collections
In addition to Artsy, there are a growing number of freely available digitized collections from museums, universities, historical archives, and other cultural heritage institutions. Use our Publicly Available Image Collections guide to start exploring.
Google Image Search Filters
Search Google Images for any general term (for example, "art") and explore the suggested filters (contemporary, watercolor, Chinese, etc.). Try searching other broad art-related terms as well, such as:
Please feel free to get in touch with a librarian at absolutely any stage of your research process.
We encourage you to schedule a research consultation with Ashley Peterson (apeterson@smfa.edu, 617-369-3653) for an in-depth discussion about your research goals.
For quicker questions, please feel free to stop by the Library's front desk (located on the third floor of the B side of the Fenway building). You can also email or call the front desk at library@smfa.edu/617-369-3650.