But what does it mean?
What is the message the painting conveys?
How can we know for sure what its meaning is?
When we first come to art, we seldom ask these sort of questions. As far as we can tell, a painting is what it is. If it's a portrait of a person then that's what it is. It doesn't mean anything more than that.
But soon we come to realise that things aren't quite so straightforward.
Take this portrait of Henry VIII by Holbein.
An ordinary portrait of the King of England in 1536?
Not a bit of it.
This is a work of propaganda. It is all about power.
Henry was actually in his mid-forties in 1536, and we know from his armour that his legs were shorter than in this painting. He was also already suffering from the illnesses which would eventually kill him.
But not here. Henry stands young, erect and proud. He has stepped forward from the niche of inactivity and is ready for anything. Everything about him speaks of power, including his codpiece which thrusts its way through the skirt of his vest.
Whatever you might have heard about the King, here is the reality he wants you to believe.
.
When you look at a painting, ask yourself why the artist has included every feature, why s/he has chosen the pose, why the setting? In some artistic traditions, there are even codes: x means y. For example: white lilies for virginity, crows for death. Even though many of these are medieval, modern artists know them and still use them.