Rose tinted glasses

There is a common misconception that the measure of a good portrait is determined by likeness. 
Does the portrait look like the person?
This is bogus.
A trip to any portrait gallery will show you that.
Sure, you can apply the likeness criteria to contemporary portraits. The portraits you can recognize but once the subjects of the portraits start to slip into history the real measure of a portrait begins to emerge.

For me, a successful portrait needs to have two qualities. It needs to be universal meaning you shouldn’t need to know who the person is to be captivated by it. It should strike a familiar chord. It should convey an aspect of the human condition that we all recognize.

This quality of universality is the complete opposite of likeness. The portrait could be a terrible likeness but still be a brilliant portrait.

The other quality it needs to have is intrigue. It needs to convey that the sitter has a rich inner life without giving that inner life is away. 
It needs to hint at a narrative without telling the story. 
It should trigger questions like, 
“What is that person thinking about? 
I can tell they are thinking about something. 
And I can tell that what they are thinking about is significant. 
I just can’t tell what it is.
WHAT IS IT?”

Simone has managed to include both of these qualities in this portrait.
I haven’t a clue if this is a good likeness of the sitter or not and it doesn’t matter. 
I recognize the mood. 
The uncomfortable feeling when one is scrutinized.  Whether that scrutiny happens in the taking of a photograph, the painting of a portrait, or the loving gaze of a concerned parent, the feeling is the same. 
“Stop looking at me.”

The story is even more intriguing. 
Why is she wearing the glasses? 
Has she been asked to wear them? 
Was she caught trying them on and now someone wants to take a picture of her wearing them? 
Who is it that is looking at her that has her so pinned by their gaze? 
Why doesn’t she run away? She obviously wants to.
And on and on . . .
The more I look the more questions come to mind and the more my eye travels around the painting looking for clues.

That is why this is a brilliant portrait that will continue to delight and intrigue for many years.