1. Strategy for analysing visual documents
Content
Who is in the image? What are they doing?
What is happening in the image?
What is happening in the background? Any symbols or does it indicate a specific place?
Describe other features in the image
The Caption
What information does the caption provide us? Does it indicate when the picture was produced?
What is the relevance of the caption to the revolution? What importance does it play?
Symbolism
If there are people in the image, how are they being depicted?
Is there anything in the image that shows us who the author is supporting?

2. Strategy for analysing visual documents
Context
What is the importance of the people in the image?
Has their position been influential?
What is the role of the people in the image?
Does the image show any ideas which were circulating at the time?
Historical Background
What is the importance of this image given its publication date?
What was happening at the time it was produced?
What else was happening in China when this image was produced?
What happened after this image?
Are there any aspects of the dominant ideologies circulating at the time that are shown in the image?

3. Strategy for analysing visual documents
Function
Is the image an accurate depiction of what is being shown?
Which view is it supporting? Is it for or against? Is it complementary or otherwise?
What evidence can you include that supports whether the image is supporting or contradicting what it is representing?
Why was it produced?
What influences did the author have in producing the image?
From what you can tell, is there a bias towards any particular group?
Is there anything that has been omitted or carefully included to persuade the viewer?