Reading Art: The Maiden

After I posted on the painting fragment of the unknown girl by a Dutch painter (also unknown) I went searching for other portraits -- to see what in her might be considered the conventions of such portraits at that time,  -- and really, I found almost none that matched the uniqueness of this painting. There were many paintings of much younger girls dressed as adults (which was the fashion of the day) -- but their faces are round and sort of flat, with only a hint of personality which I suspected reflected the way the painter felt about them -- as objects along with the accompanying birds, ponies, flower, toys also in the composition. The only real exception I found is Rubens -- who was painting different portraits of his daughter throughout her life. Here there is love, and familiarity, the features distinct -- the eyes watching the painter (and father) with mild amusment. A true face, like my unknown girl, very much alive.