Make & keep
Write a short story label beside a strip
Give the reader a clear entry point and a source.
A small display label should help someone see the portrait, not force them to read a full essay first.
Choose one useful detail
Start with the known person, occasion or visible sequence. Add a brief contextual fact supported by the record. Keep uncertain dates explicitly uncertain and label memories by their speaker. Leave detailed research in an accompanying page or catalogue rather than compressing it into tiny type beside the picture.
Check the viewing situation
Read the label from the expected standing or seated position. Make sure the item identifier and source remain legible. Ask someone unfamiliar with the portrait what they understood. Revise unclear wording without turning a plausible interpretation into a documented fact.