A boy creates a realistic scene for a project and presents it without context. I propose to distinguish illustration and documentation.
In the hypothetical example, a caption clarifies that the image does not represent an observed fact. The resemblance to a photograph does not turn it into proof.
When content is about real people or events, ambiguity can have consequences. A responsible choice makes the purpose of the image recognizable and verifies that it does not attribute to anyone actions that have never occurred.