Hypothetical question
 

What would you do if a client asked you to paint a portrait from this reference photo taken circa 1930?

You tell us what you would -hypothetically- do.

I would hypothetically paint it.

Marvin,

In terms of the light/shadow information from the photo, there's probably enough to work from.

The problem is her expression. She has that innocuous 50's high school year book look that says so little about the individual--only that she dreams of marrying a man who wears Burma Shave and drives an Edsel.

Assuming there were other photos to work with, I'd make a few drawings altering the brow, the shadow of the mouth, the photo-like catch lights in the eyes, anything to move away from Brenda Starr. If that failed then I

I rather like it - I'd go for it.