Zoia

Remarkable clarity in the eyes. That's the first thing that really jumps out at you from this portrait. The catchlghts have a very unusual character, which adds greatly to this effect. Eventually, if we can tear ourselves away from those eyes, we come to the rest of the face. I love the expression and position for their ambiguity. Direct, but slightly turning away, and then looking back with those eyes. The mouth parted: starting to speak, pensive, hesitant, afraid, honest, all of these? We are left teetering at the precipice, waiting for a revelation that will never come. It's the moment right before the decisive moment, captured perfectly.

The unreal nature of the background, with it's dissolved-in-light hair-like effects, constantly brings us back to that arresting face, though it's not like we really needed any help. It also adds a little hint of age to the picture, as if it is a damaged print from the past, preserved only by the power of that face. If you found this print in a drawer in an old house, you'd be wondering for years: Who was this woman? Does she still live? You could fall in love with a ghost from such a picture.

This is truly a beautiful portrait, absolutely stunning.