1. An image retrieval apparatus for retrieving desired image data from a database that manages image data, comprising: input means for inputting a character string serving as search criteria; partitioning means for partitioning the image data into areas on a per-attribute basis; color discrimination means for discriminating color of an area having a prescribed attribute, said area being among the areas obtained by partitioning by said partitioning means; character recognition means for subjecting the area having said prescribed attribute to character recognition based upon the color discriminated by said color discrimination means; comparison means for comparing the character string input by said input means with a character string recognized by said character recognition means; and output means for outputting image data conforming to the search criteria based upon results of the comparison performed by said comparison means.