If the image was deleted, check your cloud backups from that time period: (for Android backups). iCloud Photos (for iOS backups). 5. Check WhatsApp Web/Desktop
WhatsApp automatically saves images to your device's media gallery. your phone's Photo Gallery or Google Photos app. Look for a folder named "WhatsApp Images" . Download IMG 20211228 WA0078 jpg
Open the File Manager app -> Internal Storage -> Android -> Media -> com.whatsapp -> WhatsApp -> Media -> WhatsApp Images. If the image was deleted, check your cloud
If it's not showing in the gallery app, check the file manager: If the image was deleted
If you used WhatsApp on a computer around that date, the image might still be available in the chat history on your desktop browser or app.