Researchers and designers often require a broad range of historical visual images. Below are some resources that serve as good starting places, though many of them are more focused on fine arts (rather than film stills and documentation).
As of August 2024, the Artstor platform will no longer be available. All Artstor content will be accessible on JSTOR. Artstor includes over 500,000 images embracing architecture, painting, sculpture, photography, decorative arts, and design as well as many other forms of visual culture.
Formerly Grove Art Online, it includes the entire 34 volumes of The Dictionary of Art, with articles as well as links to images on gallery and museum web pages around the world. Includes biographies of artists and searchable images.
Calisphere is your gateway to digital collections from California's great libraries, archives, and museums. Discover over 2,125,000 images, texts, and recordings.