Read the composition first
Trace the largest shapes and the direction of light before considering individual symbols. Ask how the image establishes a focal point and whether background elements support a coherent environment.
Consider the figure's role
Examine stance, scale, and agency within the scene. Distinguish the image's formal decisions from assumptions about its creator or audience. Avoid treating a single image as proof of a wider social claim.
Compare media and reproduction
Painted, drawn, and digital work may reproduce differently on paper. Look for changes in texture, contrast, and colour between examples and discuss them as visible qualities rather than guessed production histories.