diff --git a/mathics/builtin/base.py b/mathics/builtin/base.py
index dea769f98d..7c9253bf1a 100644
--- a/mathics/builtin/base.py
+++ b/mathics/builtin/base.py
@@ -236,6 +236,16 @@ def init(self, *args, **kwargs):
         pass
 
 
+class AtomBuiltin(Builtin):
+    # allows us to define apply functions, rules, messages, etc. for Atoms
+    # which are by default not in the definitions' contribution pipeline.
+    # see Image[] for an example of this.
+
+    def get_name(self):
+        name = super(AtomBuiltin, self).get_name()
+        return re.sub(r"Atom$", "", name)
+
+
 class Operator(Builtin):
     operator = None
     precedence = None
@@ -253,6 +263,7 @@ def get_operator_display(self):
         else:
             return self.operator
 
+
 class Predefined(Builtin):
     def get_functions(self, prefix='apply'):
         functions = list(super(Predefined, self).get_functions(prefix))
diff --git a/mathics/builtin/inout.py b/mathics/builtin/inout.py
index 6bac9816de..2e67c30422 100644
--- a/mathics/builtin/inout.py
+++ b/mathics/builtin/inout.py
@@ -421,15 +421,7 @@ def apply_general(self, expr, f, evaluation):
             f:TraditionalForm|StandardForm|OutputForm|InputForm|FullForm]'''
 
         if expr.is_atom():
-            x = expr
-            if isinstance(x, Symbol):
-                return String(evaluation.definitions.shorten_name(x.name))
-            elif isinstance(x, String):
-                return String('"' + six.text_type(x.value) + '"')
-            elif isinstance(x, (Integer, Real)):
-                return x.make_boxes(f.get_name())
-            elif isinstance(x, (Rational, Complex)):
-                return x.format(evaluation, f.get_name())
+            return expr.atom_to_boxes(f, evaluation)
         else:
             head = expr.head
             leaves = expr.leaves
@@ -468,14 +460,7 @@ def _apply_atom(self, x, f, evaluation):
         '''MakeBoxes[x_?AtomQ,
             f:TraditionalForm|StandardForm|OutputForm|InputForm|FullForm]'''
 
-        if isinstance(x, Symbol):
-            return String(evaluation.definitions.shorten_name(x.name))
-        elif isinstance(x, String):
-            return String('"' + x.value + '"')
-        elif isinstance(x, (Integer, Real)):
-            return x.make_boxes(f.get_name())
-        elif isinstance(x, (Rational, Complex)):
-            return x.format(evaluation, f.get_name())
+        return x.atom_to_boxes(f, evaluation)
 
     def apply_outerprecedenceform(self, expr, prec, f, evaluation):
         '''MakeBoxes[OuterPrecedenceForm[expr_, prec_],
diff --git a/mathics/core/expression.py b/mathics/core/expression.py
index 9416c48004..81f45aa01e 100644
--- a/mathics/core/expression.py
+++ b/mathics/core/expression.py
@@ -1300,6 +1300,9 @@ def get_sort_key(self, pattern_sort=False):
     def get_atoms(self, include_heads=True):
         return [self]
 
+    def atom_to_boxes(self, f, evaluation):
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
 
 class Symbol(Atom):
     def __init__(self, name, sympy_dummy=None, **kwargs):
@@ -1317,6 +1320,9 @@ def do_copy(self):
     def boxes_to_text(self, **options):
         return str(self.name)
 
+    def atom_to_boxes(self, f, evaluation):
+        return String(evaluation.definitions.shorten_name(self.name))
+
     def to_sympy(self, **kwargs):
         from mathics.builtin import mathics_to_sympy
 
@@ -1501,6 +1507,9 @@ def boxes_to_tex(self, **options):
     def make_boxes(self, form):
         return String(str(self.value))
 
+    def atom_to_boxes(self, f, evaluation):
+        return self.make_boxes(f.get_name())
+
     def default_format(self, evaluation, form):
         return str(self.value)
 
@@ -1553,6 +1562,9 @@ def __getstate__(self):
     def __setstate__(self, dict):
         self.value = sympy.Rational(dict['value'])
 
+    def atom_to_boxes(self, f, evaluation):
+        return self.format(evaluation, f.get_name())
+
     def to_sympy(self, **kwargs):
         return self.value
 
@@ -1670,6 +1682,9 @@ def make_boxes(self, form):
         _number_form_options['_Form'] = form    # passed to _NumberFormat
         return number_form(self, dps(self.prec), None, None, _number_form_options)
 
+    def atom_to_boxes(self, f, evaluation):
+        return self.make_boxes(f.get_name())
+
     def to_sympy(self, **kwargs):
         return self.value
 
@@ -1761,6 +1776,9 @@ def __init__(self, real, imag, p=None, **kwargs):
         self.value = (self.real, self.imag)
         self.prec = p
 
+    def atom_to_boxes(self, f, evaluation):
+        return self.format(evaluation, f.get_name())
+
     def to_sympy(self, **kwargs):
         return self.sympy
 
@@ -1980,6 +1998,9 @@ def boxes_to_tex(self, show_string_characters=False, **options):
             else:
                 return encode_tex(text)
 
+    def atom_to_boxes(self, f, evaluation):
+        return String('"' + six.text_type(self.value) + '"')
+
     def do_copy(self):
         return String(self.value)