Museum labels offer minimal information, leaving most visitors with a superficial understanding of artworks. Art historians, however, employ a structured approach. For instance, in Jan van Eyck's Arnolfini Portrait (1434), the convex mirror reveals the entire room and two figures in the doorway, a detail often missed. Van Eyck even inscribed "Johannes de eyck fuit hic" (Jan van Eyck was here), signing it as a witness.

This method involves eight questions, prioritizing observation before interpretation. The process begins with basic identification (name, painter, year), followed by listing visible elements, counting figures and animals, and describing the action in one sentence. Next, one must identify two deliberate objects and their function, analyze the composition and eye-tracking, and consider the historical context (affordability, audience). Finally, identify the most memorable element.

This approach can be applied to any artwork, from a Bruegel to a postcard. The resource also provides readings of nine paintings and offers access to 881 open-access, searchable, uncropped paintings where these eight questions guide the exploration.