In its original concept, picture was designed as a parallel img element, modeled on the syntax of the HTML5 video and audio elements. The idea was to have a picture element wrapping a series of source elements, which would represent the options for the image source. It would wrap a default img element for non-supporting browsers. A media attribute on each source would hint to the browser the correct source to use:
<picture alt="original proposal"> <source src="high-resolution.png" media="min-width:1024px"> <source src="low-resolution.png"> <img src="low-resolution.png" alt="fallback image"> </picture>
For a variety of implementation-related reasons, this initial proposal was shot down. srcset filled in some of the void, ...
