diff --git a/src/astro_image_display_api/api_test.py b/src/astro_image_display_api/api_test.py
index 63d3c1c..be70d69 100644
--- a/src/astro_image_display_api/api_test.py
+++ b/src/astro_image_display_api/api_test.py
@@ -797,3 +797,28 @@ def test_save_overwrite(self, tmp_path):
 
         # Using overwrite should save successfully
         self.image.save(filename, overwrite=True)
+
+    def test_get_image_labels(self, data):
+        # the test viewer begins with a default empty image
+        assert len(self.image.get_image_labels()) == 1
+        assert self.image.get_image_labels()[0] is None
+        assert isinstance(self.image.get_image_labels(), tuple)
+
+        self.image.load_image(data, image_label="test")
+        assert len(self.image.get_image_labels()) == 2
+        assert self.image.get_image_labels()[-1] == "test"
+
+    def test_get_image(self, data):
+        self.image.load_image(data, image_label="test")
+
+        # currently the type is not specified in the API
+        assert self.image.get_image() is not None
+        assert self.image.get_image(image_label="test") is not None
+
+        retrieved_image = self.image.get_image(image_label="test")
+
+        self.image.load_image(retrieved_image, image_label="another test")
+        assert self.image.get_image(image_label="another test") is not None
+
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="[Ii]mage label.*not found"):
+            self.image.get_image(image_label="not a valid label")
diff --git a/src/astro_image_display_api/image_viewer_logic.py b/src/astro_image_display_api/image_viewer_logic.py
index af4f390..fca90a6 100644
--- a/src/astro_image_display_api/image_viewer_logic.py
+++ b/src/astro_image_display_api/image_viewer_logic.py
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ class ViewportInfo:
     stretch: BaseStretch | None = None
     cuts: BaseInterval | tuple[numbers.Real, numbers.Real] | None = None
     colormap: str | None = None
+    data: ArrayLike | NDData | CCDData | None = None
 
 
 @dataclass
@@ -332,6 +333,17 @@ def load_image(
         # working with the new image.
         self._wcs = self._images[image_label].wcs
 
+    def get_image(self, image_label: str | None = None):
+        image_label = self._resolve_image_label(image_label)
+        if image_label not in self._images:
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"Image label '{image_label}' not found. Please load an image first."
+            )
+        return self._images[image_label].data
+
+    def get_image_labels(self):
+        return tuple(self._images.keys())
+
     def _determine_largest_dimension(self, shape: tuple[int, int]) -> int:
         """
         Determine which index is the largest dimension.
@@ -401,6 +413,7 @@ def _initialize_image_viewport_stretch_cuts(
     def _load_fits(self, file: str | os.PathLike, image_label: str | None) -> None:
         ccd = CCDData.read(file)
         self._images[image_label].wcs = ccd.wcs
+        self._images[image_label].data = ccd
         self._initialize_image_viewport_stretch_cuts(ccd.data, image_label)
 
     def _load_array(self, array: ArrayLike, image_label: str | None) -> None:
@@ -416,6 +429,7 @@ def _load_array(self, array: ArrayLike, image_label: str | None) -> None:
         self._images[image_label].largest_dimension = self._determine_largest_dimension(
             array.shape
         )
+        self._images[image_label].data = array
         self._initialize_image_viewport_stretch_cuts(array, image_label)
 
     def _load_nddata(self, data: NDData, image_label: str | None) -> None:
@@ -428,6 +442,7 @@ def _load_nddata(self, data: NDData, image_label: str | None) -> None:
             The NDData object to load.
         """
         self._images[image_label].wcs = data.wcs
+        self._images[image_label].data = data
         self._images[image_label].largest_dimension = self._determine_largest_dimension(
             data.data.shape
         )
diff --git a/src/astro_image_display_api/interface_definition.py b/src/astro_image_display_api/interface_definition.py
index bb23828..0315a3d 100644
--- a/src/astro_image_display_api/interface_definition.py
+++ b/src/astro_image_display_api/interface_definition.py
@@ -48,6 +48,50 @@ def load_image(self, data: Any, image_label: str | None = None) -> None:
         raise NotImplementedError
 
     # Setting and getting image properties
+    @abstractmethod
+    def get_image(
+        self,
+        image_label: str | None = None,
+    ) -> Any:
+        """
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        image_label : optional
+            The label of the image to set the cuts for. If not given and there is
+            only one image loaded, that image is returned.
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        image_data : Any
+            The data of the loaded image. The exact type of the data is not specified,
+            and different backends may return different types. A return type compatible
+            with `astropy.nddata.NDData` is preferred, but not required. It is expected
+            that the returned data can be re-loaded into the viewer using
+            `load_image`, however.
+
+        Raises
+        ------
+        ValueError
+            If the ``image_label`` is not provided when there are multiple images
+            loaded, or if the ``image_label`` does not correspond to a loaded image.
+
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def get_image_labels(
+        self,
+    ) -> tuple[str]:
+        """
+        Get the labels of the loaded images.
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        image_labels: tuple of str
+            The labels of the loaded images.
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
     @abstractmethod
     def set_cuts(
         self,
@@ -75,8 +119,8 @@ def set_cuts(
             `astropy.visualization.BaseInterval` object.
 
         ValueError
-            If the ``image_label`` is not provided when there are multiple images loaded,
-            or if the ``image_label`` does not correspond to a loaded image.
+            If the ``image_label`` is not provided when there are multiple images
+            loaded, or if the ``image_label`` does not correspond to a loaded image.
 
         Notes
         -----
@@ -105,8 +149,8 @@ def get_cuts(self, image_label: str | None = None) -> BaseInterval:
         Raises
         ------
         ValueError
-            If the ``image_label`` is not provided when there are multiple images loaded,
-            or if the ``image_label`` does not correspond to a loaded image.
+            If the ``image_label`` is not provided when there are multiple images
+            loaded, or if the ``image_label`` does not correspond to a loaded image.
 
         Notes
         -----
@@ -132,7 +176,8 @@ def set_stretch(self, stretch: BaseStretch, image_label: str | None = None) -> N
         Raises
         ------
         TypeError
-            If the ``stretch`` is not a valid `~astropy.visualization.BaseStretch` object.
+            If the ``stretch`` is not a valid `~astropy.visualization.BaseStretch`
+            object.
 
         ValueError
             If the ``image_label`` is not provided when there are multiple images loaded
@@ -291,7 +336,8 @@ def load_catalog(
             name will be generated.
         catalog_style : dict, optional
             A dictionary that specifies the style of the markers used to
-            represent the catalog. See `~astro_image_display_api.interface_definition.ImageViewerInterface.set_catalog_style`
+            represent the catalog. See
+            `~astro_image_display_api.interface_definition.ImageViewerInterface.set_catalog_style`
             for details.
 
         Raises
@@ -497,15 +543,17 @@ def set_viewport(
         Raises
         ------
         TypeError
-            If the ``center`` is not a `~astropy.coordinates.SkyCoord` object or a tuple of floats, or if
-            the ``fov`` is not a angular `~astropy.units.Quantity` or a float, or if there is no WCS
-            and the center or field of view require a WCS to be applied.
+            If the ``center`` is not a `~astropy.coordinates.SkyCoord` object or a tuple
+            of floats, or if the ``fov`` is not a angular `~astropy.units.Quantity` or a
+            float, or if there is no WCS and the center or field of view require a WCS
+            to be applied.
 
         ValueError
             If ``image_label`` is not provided when there are multiple images loaded.
 
         `astropy.units.UnitTypeError`
-            If the ``fov`` is a `~astropy.units.Quantity` but does not have an angular unit.
+            If the ``fov`` is a `~astropy.units.Quantity` but does not have an angular
+            unit.
 
         Notes
         -----
@@ -524,9 +572,11 @@ def get_viewport(
         Parameters
         ----------
         sky_or_pixel : str, optional
-            If 'sky', the center will be returned as a `~astropy.coordinates.SkyCoord` object.
-            If 'pixel', the center will be returned as a tuple of pixel coordinates.
-            If `None`, the default behavior is to return the center as a `~astropy.coordinates.SkyCoord` if
+            If 'sky', the center will be returned as a `~astropy.coordinates.SkyCoord`
+            object. If 'pixel', the center will be returned as a tuple of pixel
+            coordinates.
+            If `None`, the default behavior is to return the center as a
+            `~astropy.coordinates.SkyCoord` if
             possible, or as a tuple of floats if the image is in pixel coordinates and
             has no WCS information.
         image_label : str, optional
@@ -539,7 +589,8 @@ def get_viewport(
         dict
             A dictionary containing the current viewport settings.
             The keys are 'center', 'fov', and 'image_label'.
-            - 'center' is an `~astropy.coordinates.SkyCoord` object or a tuple of floats.
+            - 'center' is an `~astropy.coordinates.SkyCoord` object or a tuple of
+            floats.
             - 'fov' is an `~astropy.units.Quantity` object or a float.
             - 'image_label' is a string representing the label of the image.