Are pictures primary or secondary sources?

Pictures can be considered primary sources if they are original images created at the time an event occurred, such as photographs, paintings, or drawings. They provide firsthand evidence and insight into a specific moment, person, or place. However, if a picture is used in a context that analyzes or interprets an event or if it is reproduced in a secondary work, it can be classified as a secondary source. Thus, the classification depends on the context in which the picture is used.