To increase the efficacy of visual instruction, more must be known about the operational forces within the image, and the determining factors in picture quality as a means of communication. The theory of information applied to this analysis of pictorial content, the fundamental thesis being that the value of an image depends on its content of information. The more a picture needs explanation, the smaller its utilization in the classroom. The principles necessary for smooth comprehension of the picture contents and the organization of picture reality are casuality, parallelism, sequence, interruption, and the principle of conveying the information in the picture to the class. Equally important is the need to define the wanted focus of attention (details of the picture) and the direction of the movement (the overall picture). An understanding of these fundamentals should aid both the artist producing the pictorial images and the foreign language teacher. (DS)