diff --git a/src/app/browse-by/browse-by-date-page/browse-by-date-page.component.ts b/src/app/browse-by/browse-by-date-page/browse-by-date-page.component.ts
index 271828a38e..caa7891861 100644
--- a/src/app/browse-by/browse-by-date-page/browse-by-date-page.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/browse-by/browse-by-date-page/browse-by-date-page.component.ts
@@ -50,7 +50,8 @@ export class BrowseByDatePageComponent extends BrowseByMetadataPageComponent {
   ngOnInit(): void {
     const sortConfig = new SortOptions('default', SortDirection.ASC);
     this.startsWithType = StartsWithType.date;
-    this.updatePage(new BrowseEntrySearchOptions(this.defaultBrowseId, this.paginationConfig, sortConfig));
+    this.updatePage(new BrowseEntrySearchOptions(this.defaultBrowseId, this.paginationConfig, sortConfig, null,
+      null, this.embedThumbnail));
     this.currentPagination$ = this.paginationService.getCurrentPagination(this.paginationConfig.id, this.paginationConfig);
     this.currentSort$ = this.paginationService.getCurrentSort(this.paginationConfig.id, sortConfig);
     this.subs.push(
@@ -63,7 +64,7 @@ export class BrowseByDatePageComponent extends BrowseByMetadataPageComponent {
         const metadataKeys = params.browseDefinition ? params.browseDefinition.metadataKeys : this.defaultMetadataKeys;
         this.browseId = params.id || this.defaultBrowseId;
         this.startsWith = +params.startsWith || params.startsWith;
-        const searchOptions = browseParamsToOptions(params, currentPage, currentSort, this.browseId);
+        const searchOptions = browseParamsToOptions(params, currentPage, currentSort, this.browseId, this.embedThumbnail);
         this.updatePageWithItems(searchOptions, this.value, undefined);
         this.updateParent(params.scope);
         this.updateStartsWithOptions(this.browseId, metadataKeys, params.scope);
diff --git a/src/app/browse-by/browse-by-metadata-page/browse-by-metadata-page.component.ts b/src/app/browse-by/browse-by-metadata-page/browse-by-metadata-page.component.ts
index c685fe31a7..bd25a38b91 100644
--- a/src/app/browse-by/browse-by-metadata-page/browse-by-metadata-page.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/browse-by/browse-by-metadata-page/browse-by-metadata-page.component.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { combineLatest as observableCombineLatest, Observable, Subscription } from 'rxjs';
-import { Component, OnInit } from '@angular/core';
+import { Component, Input, OnInit } from '@angular/core';
 import { RemoteData } from '../../core/data/remote-data';
 import { PaginatedList } from '../../core/data/paginated-list.model';
 import { PaginationComponentOptions } from '../../shared/pagination/pagination-component-options.model';
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ import { StartsWithType } from '../../shared/starts-with/starts-with-decorator';
 import { BrowseByDataType, rendersBrowseBy } from '../browse-by-switcher/browse-by-decorator';
 import { PaginationService } from '../../core/pagination/pagination.service';
 import { map } from 'rxjs/operators';
+import { environment } from '../../../environments/environment';
+
 
 export const BBM_PAGINATION_ID = 'bbm';
 
@@ -111,16 +113,24 @@ export class BrowseByMetadataPageComponent implements OnInit {
    */
   startsWith: string;
 
+  /**
+   * Determines whether to request embedded thumbnail.
+   */
+  embedThumbnail: boolean;
+
   public constructor(protected route: ActivatedRoute,
                      protected browseService: BrowseService,
                      protected dsoService: DSpaceObjectDataService,
                      protected paginationService: PaginationService,
                      protected router: Router) {
+    this.embedThumbnail = environment.showItemThumbnails;
   }
 
   ngOnInit(): void {
+
     const sortConfig = new SortOptions('default', SortDirection.ASC);
-    this.updatePage(new BrowseEntrySearchOptions(this.defaultBrowseId, this.paginationConfig, sortConfig));
+    this.updatePage(new BrowseEntrySearchOptions(this.defaultBrowseId, this.paginationConfig, sortConfig, null,
+      null, false));
     this.currentPagination$ = this.paginationService.getCurrentPagination(this.paginationConfig.id, this.paginationConfig);
     this.currentSort$ = this.paginationService.getCurrentSort(this.paginationConfig.id, sortConfig);
     this.subs.push(
@@ -133,15 +143,16 @@ export class BrowseByMetadataPageComponent implements OnInit {
           this.authority = params.authority;
           this.value = +params.value || params.value || '';
           this.startsWith = +params.startsWith || params.startsWith;
-          const searchOptions = browseParamsToOptions(params, currentPage, currentSort, this.browseId);
           if (isNotEmpty(this.value)) {
-            this.updatePageWithItems(searchOptions, this.value, this.authority);
+            this.updatePageWithItems(
+              browseParamsToOptions(params, currentPage, currentSort, this.browseId, this.embedThumbnail), this.value, this.authority);
           } else {
-            this.updatePage(searchOptions);
+            this.updatePage(browseParamsToOptions(params, currentPage, currentSort, this.browseId, false));
           }
           this.updateParent(params.scope);
         }));
     this.updateStartsWithTextOptions();
+
   }
 
   /**
@@ -234,16 +245,19 @@ export class BrowseByMetadataPageComponent implements OnInit {
  * @param paginationConfig  Pagination configuration
  * @param sortConfig        Sorting configuration
  * @param metadata          Optional metadata definition to fetch browse entries/items for
+ * @param embedThumbnails   Optional parameter for requesting thumbnail images
  */
 export function browseParamsToOptions(params: any,
                                       paginationConfig: PaginationComponentOptions,
                                       sortConfig: SortOptions,
-                                      metadata?: string): BrowseEntrySearchOptions {
+                                      metadata?: string,
+                                      embedThumbnails?: boolean): BrowseEntrySearchOptions {
   return new BrowseEntrySearchOptions(
     metadata,
     paginationConfig,
     sortConfig,
     +params.startsWith || params.startsWith,
-    params.scope
+    params.scope,
+    embedThumbnails
   );
 }
diff --git a/src/app/browse-by/browse-by-title-page/browse-by-title-page.component.ts b/src/app/browse-by/browse-by-title-page/browse-by-title-page.component.ts
index 6504a8700a..fbc3916400 100644
--- a/src/app/browse-by/browse-by-title-page/browse-by-title-page.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/browse-by/browse-by-title-page/browse-by-title-page.component.ts
@@ -30,13 +30,15 @@ export class BrowseByTitlePageComponent extends BrowseByMetadataPageComponent {
                      protected browseService: BrowseService,
                      protected dsoService: DSpaceObjectDataService,
                      protected paginationService: PaginationService,
-                     protected router: Router) {
+                     protected router: Router,
+                     ) {
     super(route, browseService, dsoService, paginationService, router);
   }
 
   ngOnInit(): void {
     const sortConfig = new SortOptions('dc.title', SortDirection.ASC);
-    this.updatePage(new BrowseEntrySearchOptions(this.defaultBrowseId, this.paginationConfig, sortConfig));
+    this.updatePage(new BrowseEntrySearchOptions(this.defaultBrowseId, this.paginationConfig, sortConfig, null,
+      null, this.embedThumbnail));
     this.currentPagination$ = this.paginationService.getCurrentPagination(this.paginationConfig.id, this.paginationConfig);
     this.currentSort$ = this.paginationService.getCurrentSort(this.paginationConfig.id, sortConfig);
     this.subs.push(
@@ -47,7 +49,7 @@ export class BrowseByTitlePageComponent extends BrowseByMetadataPageComponent {
       ).subscribe(([params, currentPage, currentSort]: [Params, PaginationComponentOptions, SortOptions]) => {
         this.startsWith = +params.startsWith || params.startsWith;
         this.browseId = params.id || this.defaultBrowseId;
-        this.updatePageWithItems(browseParamsToOptions(params, currentPage, currentSort, this.browseId), undefined, undefined);
+        this.updatePageWithItems(browseParamsToOptions(params, currentPage, currentSort, this.browseId, this.embedThumbnail), undefined, undefined);
         this.updateParent(params.scope);
       }));
     this.updateStartsWithTextOptions();
diff --git a/src/app/core/browse/browse-entry-search-options.model.ts b/src/app/core/browse/browse-entry-search-options.model.ts
index 417bf7ce75..a4b04e0d57 100644
--- a/src/app/core/browse/browse-entry-search-options.model.ts
+++ b/src/app/core/browse/browse-entry-search-options.model.ts
@@ -6,13 +6,16 @@ import { SortOptions } from '../cache/models/sort-options.model';
  * - metadataDefinition:  The metadata definition to fetch entries or items for
  * - pagination:          Optional pagination options to use
  * - sort:                Optional sorting options to use
+ * - startsWith           An optional value to use to filter the browse results
  * - scope:               An optional scope to limit the results within a specific collection or community
+ * - embedThumbnail       An optional boolean to request thumbnail for items
  */
 export class BrowseEntrySearchOptions {
   constructor(public metadataDefinition: string,
               public pagination?: PaginationComponentOptions,
               public sort?: SortOptions,
               public startsWith?: string,
-              public scope?: string) {
+              public scope?: string,
+              public embedThumbnail?: boolean) {
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/app/core/browse/browse.service.ts b/src/app/core/browse/browse.service.ts
index c34c32d9c2..46524e4385 100644
--- a/src/app/core/browse/browse.service.ts
+++ b/src/app/core/browse/browse.service.ts
@@ -105,10 +105,8 @@ export class BrowseService {
         return href;
       })
     );
-
-    if (options.metadataDefinition == 'title' || options.metadataDefinition == 'dateissued' ) {
+    if (options.embedThumbnail) {
       return this.hrefOnlyDataService.findAllByHref<BrowseEntry>(href$, {}, null, null, ...BROWSE_ENTRY_LINKS_TO_FOLLOW);
-
     }
     return this.hrefOnlyDataService.findAllByHref<BrowseEntry>(href$);
   }
@@ -155,7 +153,7 @@ export class BrowseService {
         return href;
       }),
     );
-    if (options.metadataDefinition == 'title' || options.metadataDefinition == 'dateissued' || hasValue(filterValue)) {
+    if (options.embedThumbnail) {
       return this.hrefOnlyDataService.findAllByHref<Item>(href$, {}, null, null, ...BROWSE_ITEM_LINKS_TO_FOLLOW);
     }
     return this.hrefOnlyDataService.findAllByHref<Item>(href$);
diff --git a/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/item-search-result/item-types/item/item-search-result-list-element.component.html b/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/item-search-result/item-types/item/item-search-result-list-element.component.html
index c13821a153..fb0429a8b9 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/item-search-result/item-types/item/item-search-result-list-element.component.html
+++ b/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/item-search-result/item-types/item/item-search-result-list-element.component.html
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 <div class="row">
-  <div class="col-md-2">
+  <div *ngIf="showThumbnails" class="col-md-2">
     <a *ngIf="linkType != linkTypes.None" [target]="(linkType == linkTypes.ExternalLink) ? '_blank' : '_self'" rel="noopener noreferrer"
        [routerLink]="[itemPageRoute]" class="lead item-list-title dont-break-out">
     <ds-thumbnail [thumbnail]="dso?.thumbnail | async" [limitWidth]="true">
     </ds-thumbnail>
     </a>
   </div>
-  <div class="col-md-10">
+  <div [ngClass]="showThumbnails ? 'col-md-10' : 'col-md-12'">
     <div class="d-flex">
       <ds-type-badge *ngIf="showLabel" [object]="dso"></ds-type-badge>
       <ds-access-status-badge [item]="dso" class="pl-1"></ds-access-status-badge>
diff --git a/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/item-search-result/item-types/item/item-search-result-list-element.component.ts b/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/item-search-result/item-types/item/item-search-result-list-element.component.ts
index b5eb64869d..46c3efd126 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/item-search-result/item-types/item/item-search-result-list-element.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/object-list/search-result-list-element/item-search-result/item-types/item/item-search-result-list-element.component.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { ItemSearchResult } from '../../../../../object-collection/shared/item-s
 import { SearchResultListElementComponent } from '../../../search-result-list-element.component';
 import { Item } from '../../../../../../core/shared/item.model';
 import { getItemPageRoute } from '../../../../../../item-page/item-page-routing-paths';
+import { environment } from '../../../../../../../environments/environment';
 
 @listableObjectComponent('PublicationSearchResult', ViewMode.ListElement)
 @listableObjectComponent(ItemSearchResult, ViewMode.ListElement)
@@ -22,8 +23,14 @@ export class ItemSearchResultListElementComponent extends SearchResultListElemen
    */
   itemPageRoute: string;
 
+  /**
+   * Display thumbnails if required by configuration
+   */
+  showThumbnails: boolean;
+
   ngOnInit(): void {
     super.ngOnInit();
+    this.showThumbnails = environment.showItemThumbnails;
     this.itemPageRoute = getItemPageRoute(this.dso);
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/config/app-config.interface.ts b/src/config/app-config.interface.ts
index cd9ef103ae..515de9613f 100644
--- a/src/config/app-config.interface.ts
+++ b/src/config/app-config.interface.ts
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ interface AppConfig extends Config {
   defaultLanguage: string;
   languages: LangConfig[];
   browseBy: BrowseByConfig;
+  showItemThumbnails: boolean;
   item: ItemConfig;
   collection: CollectionPageConfig;
   themes: ThemeConfig[];
diff --git a/src/config/default-app-config.ts b/src/config/default-app-config.ts
index d2d0608a03..8c4731d3b2 100644
--- a/src/config/default-app-config.ts
+++ b/src/config/default-app-config.ts
@@ -208,6 +208,9 @@ export class DefaultAppConfig implements AppConfig {
     defaultLowerLimit: 1900
   };
 
+  // Whether to add item thumbnail images to browse and search result lists.
+  showItemThumbnails: false;
+
   // Item Config
   item: ItemConfig = {
     edit: {
diff --git a/src/environments/environment.test.ts b/src/environments/environment.test.ts
index 4d466bd37b..edf986b88f 100644
--- a/src/environments/environment.test.ts
+++ b/src/environments/environment.test.ts
@@ -200,6 +200,7 @@ export const environment: BuildConfig = {
     // The absolute lowest year to display in the dropdown (only used when no lowest date can be found for all items)
     defaultLowerLimit: 1900,
   },
+  showItemThumbnails: false,
   item: {
     edit: {
       undoTimeout: 10000 // 10 seconds