The portrait was an instant sensation. Not only was the composition notable, but the enigmatic expression on the model’s face arrested the attention of critics and patrons alike.
The artist, knowing his business, let the public debate its meaning themselves. The figure was called alternately a temptress, a saint, and a harridan. She remained a figure of fascination for decades.
In the stuffy flophouse the artist used as a studio, the model sat on her cushions and endured hours of torturous discomfort as he made minuscule changes to his painting. She tried not to let it show on her face.

Woman With Hair Knots, by Paul Gauguin, is in the Public Domain, and shared through WIkimedia Commons.

My very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!

Everyday Drabbles © 2025 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0