According to the official documentation https://docker-py.readthedocs.io/en/stable/images.html is used to build an image using docker module of python.

(The question was asked a year ago, but I'll write it for other people's reference :) )

For a basic understanding, you can use this, and I will leave the rest for you to explore.

client.images.build() is the method to build the docker images.
Now it can have several parameters:

Like path (str) – Path to the directory containing the Dockerfile.
You can specify the parameter like this:

client.images.build(path = "<path_to_the_Dockerfile>")

For example, if your Dockerfile is in the current directory you will write client.images.build(path = "./")

This command will build the required image from the Dockerfile you would have in your current directory.

You can check from your terminal if your image has been successfully build by running the command docker image ls (use sudo docker image ls if required), and you will see the image you created at the top of the results in the terminal.

Try:

containers = cli.containers.list(all=True)

From the docs:

list(**kwargs)

List containers. Similar to the docker ps command.
Parameters: 

    all (bool) – Show all containers. Only running containers are shown by default

https://docker-py.readthedocs.io/en/stable/containers.html#docker.models.containers.ContainerCollection.list