User:GFontenelle (WMF)/Depicts

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The Wikidata depicts (P180) property is widely used on Wikidata to describe the content of certain items. It is now available on Wikimedia Commons to give structure to media descriptions, as part of the Structured Data on Commons project. It is used by more than 5 million files on Commons (August 2021).

Prior to the introduction of structured data, file information and categories on Commons could only be added in a single language, which was most commonly English. The Wikidata depicts (P180) property, however, can be described in multiple languages. Adding depicts statements to media files therefore transforms Wikimedia Commons into a truly multilingual platform, where readers of any language can find, understand, and use media files.

Depicts statements are used by MediaSearch to find the most relevant results.

At first, MediaSearch runs queries that include statements and captions that use Structured Data. Next, it expands and searches terms based on Wikidata labels (the most common name that a Wikidata item would be known by). Lastly, it can further expand based on Commons categories and text-based information. All of that means that, in addition to full-text matching, MediaSearch will also include results that have a depicts statement of any Wikidata entity that matches a user's search term. It will also include results that have a relevant digital representation of (P6243) statement.

By taking advantage of statements like depicts, MediaSearch works in any language supported by MediaWiki and does not require knowledge of English. You can learn more about how MediaSearch works here.

MediaSearch also powers the visual editor on Wikipedia, allowing more image results, in more languages, to show up to illustrate Wikipedia articles.

Depicts are also used by tools that help users find relevant images for unillustrated Wikipedia articles, a new feature in development. You can learn more about image suggestions here.

The depicts statements on Wikimedia Commons are available on the page for the media file, but on a secondary tab, the Structured data tab, which can be found beside the File information tab.

Depicts statements are also used to suggest images on the Wikimedia Commons MediaSearch. This search works by ranking images accordingly to the certain structured data, like depicts, that are inserted into the images. Through the Structured Data Across Wikimedia initiative, depicts statements will also be used to suggest images on Wikipedia articles in various languages, in the image recommendations project.

Currently, the main way depicts statements can be added to Wikimedia Commons media files is through the media file's main page, on the Structured data tab, but there are some other means.

Users that upload to Wikimedia Commons using Upload Wizard are also led to insert depicts statements (the only Structured Data information requested) into their files to help identify what is portrayed in the media.

Tools are also available with depicts capabilities, like the ISA tool, AC/DC, SDC, Image Annotator, and Quickstatements. Learn how to use them on this page.

More advanced users are also adding depicts statements with bots, through a Pywikibot script.

There are three ways to search depicts statements on Wikimedia Commons: using the usual Structured data interface in every Commons file (or Structured data tab), using the MediaSearch, or through Wikimedia Commons Query Service (WCQS). All these alternatives allow searches with depicts and qualifiers. The MediaSearch also allows you to search depicts statements on specific Commons categories.

Find more more details about how to search Structured Data on Commons here and how to use the Wikimedia Commons Query Service here.

Every Structured Data on Commons edit, including depicts (P180) added to media files, will take a few days to be displayed on the Wikimedia Commons Query Service, as this tool is still being developed.

The primary purpose of depicts (P180) statements on Commons is to identify, in a structured way, the items clearly visible in a media file.

Wikidata has many entities at varying levels of detail and MediaSearch can't reliably infer relationships between them. Therefore, to optimize a media file for discovery, you should add multiple depicts (P180) statements, both general and specific. For example, this image of the fictional dog Lassie should have the statements dog (Q144), Rough Collie (Q38650), and Lassie (Q941640). To differentiate the level of importance of each statement, you should mark the most significant element as prominent and apply qualifiers (see both sections below).

Another example is this image of a Sequoia tree, which should have both Sequoia (Q1975652) and tree (Q10884) depicts statements. Even though Sequoia is a tree, in the Wikidata ontology Sequoia is considered a subclass of taxon (Q16521). For that reason, searching only for tree would not be enough to find media files depicting only Sequoia (Q1975652) and not also tree (Q10884). In other words, MediaSearch currently only looks at the Wikidata objects that are directly listed as being depicted on the file itself; it is unable to make logical inferences, such as the fact that depicting a Sequoia entails depicting a tree.

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  The Rough Collie who played Lassie in 1942
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  Black Mountain Grove, a giant sequoia grove

To clarify, it's also very important to understand that Structured data on Commons does not function like the Commons category system, currently does not intend to, and it does not have the same clear hierarchy and division.

In the depicts (P180) statement, it’s also possible to identify the main features of the image using the ‘mark as prominent’ option. This is particularly important if many depicts statements have been added to a file.

Multiple depicts statements makes it hard to know which statements are the most important or relevant ones in a file. Statements essentially only have two states: something is in the file, or it is not. There is no further detail about just how relevant something is in that file.

To choose which depicts statement to 'mark as prominent', you should ask yourself:

Are the depicts statements equally important, or is one of them the obvious subject and the other a less relevant background detail? If so, which? Is a depicts statement on one file more prominent than the same depicts statement on another?

Consider the Pale Blue Dot photographs: even though the earth makes up less than a pixel in the image set, it's a significant feature of the images. The “mark as prominent” depicts (P180) feature for statements is provided to address some of these issues.

The Sessão do Conselho de Estado (Q43485263) painting is also a good example of the use of ‘mark as prominent’. There are several characters depicted in the work, most of them on the same disposition, but the main subject and focus is the female character, Maria Leopoldina of Austria (Q84239), who is also represented in a different color.

It's important to differentiate between the 'marked as prominent' feature, in the depicts (P180) section, and the main subject (P921), which is also used by MediaSearch to rank media files that will be displayed first in searches on Commons. Sometimes, both properties might refer to the same element, as Mona Lisa, the person depicted in Mona Lisa (Q11879536), is the main subject on the Mona Lisa (Q12418), the painting, and the most prominent element depicted on the painting. On occasions, they might differ, like in the Sessão do Conselho de Estado (Q43485263) painting, in which the main element is the woman, Maria Leopoldina of Austria (Q84239), but the main subject is the Independence of Brazil (Q1548600).

As a feature, ‘mark as prominent’ enhances the accessibility of media files for people with visual disabilities, as it's a structured way to differentiate between elements displayed in an image, especially considering that not all media files on Wikimedia Commons have a Wikidata item (or a notable enough to have one) to be described on a structured and multilingual way over that platform.

‘Mark as prominent’ is used in the edit interface on the structure data tab for each file and in some tools, like the ISA tool. It can also be added through bots, but it's not available in other upload tools, such as Pattypan or OpenRefine.

If the image is a digital representation of a notable creative work, the best practice is to add it first to Wikidata and then use the digital representation of (P6243) together with depicts (P180) statements on Wikimedia Commons.

In a painting like Mona Lisa (Q12418), the digital representation of (P6243) statement should link to the Wikidata page for the painting. In the depicts section, it should have a statement saying the file depicts Mona Lisa, the person depicted in Mona Lisa (Q11879536), which should be 'marked as prominent'. After that data, depicts statements for more incidental items could follow, such as sky (Q527), body of water (Q15324), bridge (Q12280), armrest (Q2822867), but it would be best to use a qualifier like 'applies to part' (see section below).

If the media file is an installation photograph, showing the Mona Lisa (Q12418) painting alongside other works in a room of the Louvre Museum (Q19675), you then treat the painting as a three-dimensional work and not simply a digital representation. In this case, it's important to add that the media file depicts Mona Lisa (Q12418), the painting, and it's not necessary to use the digital representation of (P6243) property (see the page about the digital representation of property to know more). As the media file is more than just a digital reproduction of a two-dimensional work, depicts statements for the elements surrounding the work should be added, such as the Wikidata item for the other works, a picture frame (Q860792), plinth (Q268205), or even a museum display case (Q10588786).

The use of the applies to part, aspect, or form (P518) qualifier could help improve ranking, but those qualifiers are currently rarely used at all on Commons, though they have precedent on Wikidata. For example, on the Wikidata item for Mona Lisa, the depicted elements have 'applies to part' qualifiers that specify foreground or background, which could provide additional signals to the search ranking algorithm if used on Commons.

Qualifiers provide context for depicts, making it more specific and helping readers or machines to know which subject on the media file that specific depicts statement is referring to.

While the feature doesn't yet influence search ranking, it's possible to search a qualifier on MediaSearch using the haswbstatement search. To find every file that depicts a black cat, the data should have a depicts statement for house cat (Q146) and a qualifier of color color (P462) with the Wikidata item for black (Q23445).

In the case of a person, the qualifier can be shown with features (P1354) to describe their physical characteristics, such as waist-length hair (Q14130), or even wears (P3828), hair color (P1884), or uses (P2283).

• shown with features (P1354)
• color (P462)
• wears (P3828)
• quantity (P1114)
• inscription (P1684)
• symbolizes (P4878)
• relative position within image (P2677)
• shape (P1419)
• made from material (P186)

To know which values can be used as qualifiers without generating a warning, see the section 'allowed qualifiers constraint' within the depicts (P180) property.

Case	Example file	Statement	Comment	Questions
A highly-detailed picture with hundreds of structures	API	This box: v • d • e depicts Paris edit 0 references add reference Seine edit 0 references add reference add value	Even though this picture technically depicts hundreds of structures, just the main ones should be added to the depicts section and the city of Paris (Q90) should be 'marked as prominent'.	Should you also add satellite imagery (Q725252)?
A picture of a three-dimensional creative work	API	This box: v • d • e depicts lion edit 0 references add reference add value	The creative work is in the format of a lion (Q140), so that statement should be added as depicts (P180).	Should you also add figurine (Q1066288), even though that could be modelled as medium?
A picture of a three-dimensional creative work depicting another creative work	API	This box: v • d • e depicts vase edit 0 references add reference Dionysus edit 0 references add reference Maenad edit 0 references add reference satyr edit 0 references add reference add value	The artistic work is both the vase, with its own creative elements, and the painting, with its characters. At least, vase (Q191851) and Dionysus (Q41680) should be 'marked as prominent'.	It would also be helpful to clarify the use of depicts (P180) vs. instance of (P31) as used on Wikidata. For this example, we would enter 'vase' as instance of (P31) rather than depicts (P180). All the tags we’ve been adding refer to the depicted subject matter and not what the object actually is. I can see how it would be helpful to have this on Structured Data on Commons, so should be we be adding instance of (P31) items as depicts (P180) statements on Structured Data on Commons?
A picture of a structure depicting a creative work	API	This box: v • d • e depicts Moses edit 0 references add reference mural edit 0 references add reference building edit 0 references add reference add value	The Moses (Q1989744) painting, the mural, and the building should all be added to the depicts section, but the painting should be 'marked as prominent.
A media file using a qualifier as a reference (or a tag)	API	This box: v • d • e depicts Heracles edit determination method or standard Metropolitan Museum of Art Tagging Initiative 0 references add reference nude edit determination method or standard Metropolitan Museum of Art Tagging Initiative 0 references add reference add value	This media file is using the determination method or standard (P459) property as a qualifier in a way that resembles a reference and that also states its source, how it is an 'institutional metadata', uploaded through a GLAM partnership. For a more general approach, there's the determined by GLAM institution and stated at its website (Q61848113) option.
Digital representation of a creative work that depicts a notable person	API	This box: v • d • e digital representation of Self-portrait edit 0 references add reference add value This box: v • d • e depicts Vincent van Gogh edit 0 references add reference add value	On a digital representation of a creative work, the digital representation of (P6243) should link to the Wikidata item for the creative work and the depicts (P180) should link to the main features depicted. In the case of this painting, depicts should specifically link to Vincent van Gogh (Q5582), as he's a notable person.	Should you also add Impressionism (Q40415), even though that could be modelled as the genre?
Creative work that depicts a character that symbolizes an idea, feeling, or another abstract concept	API	This box: v • d • e depicts woman edit symbolizes idleness 0 references add reference add value	Some features in creative works are depicted to symbolize or represent certain ideas or feelings and this data should be added to the 'depicts' section. It's the case of the Idleness (Q19953492) painting, that depicts a woman that represents idleness (Q278781).
A picture that depicts an inscription	API	This box: v • d • e depicts Shugborough inscription edit inscription O U O S V A V V (undetermined language) 0 references add reference add value	In a media file that depicts an inscription, the exact words or characters of that inscription should be added to the depicts (P180) section, even if it's in an undetermined language, like the example work.
A video being described using depicts statements and qualifiers	API	This box: v • d • e depicts solar eclipse edit 0 references add reference Sun edit applies to part, aspect, or form background 0 references add reference Moon edit applies to part, aspect, or form foreground 0 references add reference add value	Modeling the 'depicts' for a video can be difficult when the file shows many elements, but it's also possible using qualifiers.
A file in which the concept of 'depiction' is not as clear, like an audio file using a depicts (P180) statement	API	This box: v • d • e depicts wedding music edit 0 references add reference add value	This audio file is using wedding music (Q106015533), which is a music genre (Q188451), as a depicts (P180).	Should depicts (P180) have a statement that is a music genre (Q188451) or should it have a statement referring to the file, like sound recording process (Q5057302) or audio file (Q26987229)? In a case of an audio with lyrics, should it contain the words described as well?

A list of files that serve of examples of best practices on how to model various situations.

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  Nicholas Hilliard 021 (2).jpg Example of data modelling of artwork with Wikidata item
• 
  Mona Lisa, by Leonardo da Vinci, from C2RMF retouched.jpg Example of a artwork with good use of qualifiers, especially applies to part, aspect, or form (P518) and relative position within image (P2677)
• 
  Lady with an Ermine - Leonardo da Vinci - Google Art Project.jpg Example of a artwork with good use of shown with features (P1354), wears (P3828), and expression, gesture or body pose (P6022) as qualifiers
• 
  De kunstgalerij van Jan Gildemeester Jansz Rijksmuseum SK-A-4100.jpeg Example of artwork with annotations and the applies to part, aspect, or form (P518) qualifier, within the depicts (P180) property, to help identify several other creative works and notable people depicted in it
• 
  Midvinterblot (Carl Larsson) - Nationalmuseum - edited.jpg Example of artwork using relative position within image (P2677) as a qualifier
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  Barmouth Bay by Lewis Morris 02348.jpg Example of a map using depicts (P180) and 'mark as prominent'
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  Werner Haberkorn - Centro da cidade.jpg Example of a photograph using many relative position within image (P2677) as qualifiers for multiple depicted places
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  Würfelzucker -- 2018 -- 3564.jpg Example of a picture with good use of qualifiers, especially quantity (P1114), shape (P1419), and made from material (P186)
• 
  Arholma kyrka July 2020 02.jpg Example of a Wiki Loves Monuments 2020 in Sweden (Q105201223) photograph using Structured Data statements and with depicts (P180) linking to the depicted heritage place
• 
  Holi shop.jpg Example of a picture with good use of the property color (P462) as a qualifier
• 
  U337 Granbyhällen - KMB - 16001000167444.jpg An example of a heritage monument using a depicts statement that identifies the monument itself

• Should other statements, such as instance of (P31) and main subject (P921), be prioritized by MediaSearch? Or should they be added as depicts (P180) information?
• Should 'mark as prominent' be available in the Upload Wizard? And should it be used on MediaSearch to help ranking media files?
• Should depicts (P180) include 'genre' as well? Or should it be added as a qualifier to the statement that would been equivalent to instance of (P31) on Wikidata?
• Should Wikimedia Commons duplicate (partially, and guaranteed to be less complete) data that is also on Wikidata? Or should Commons do it, as there are many media files without a Wikidata item as they don't reach the platform's notability standards?

• Include a "drag and drop" button to Wikimedia Commons to add structured data to files (suggestion made during Wikimania, on this talk page).

• Structured Data on Commons: “Depicts” spec - August, 2018
• Consultation on modeling references for depiction information - May 18, 2021
• Feedback on the depicts testing - March, 2019