An image retrieval system has a network server, at least one client terminal and a data archive of a multiuser file management system, spatially separated from server and client, of a file server. A reduced data stream is now transmitted between server and client and includes a header for transmitting address and meta information with an additional data field that includes an access key to the bulk data stored in the external data archive. This reduces the data volume to be transmitted during image retrieval, and thus reduces the network utilization in the transmission of the data stream occurring between server and client. As a result of this, the time period required to transfer the modified data stream between server and client terminal is correspondingly short.