What struck me most was the look in her eyes. They look alternately surprised, challenging and lonely. The muted colours are unusual and a bit off-putting at first, but they do work very well, giving it the look of an old portrait. Her right hand is placed just so, coming up unobtrusively to draw attention to the red and glowing pendant settling above her heart (Thought even this bright spot of colour is dimmed in the neutral palette). I love her hair; it is a lovely mix of straight and curling, neat and wild, and it frames her pale face beautifully. Her gown is also interesting; bright, vein-like lines of orange run across the voluminous fabric, like fiery rivers of lava across a barren land. And in a way, she does seem to be the physical embodiment of the land: majestic, gentle, and filled with a deep, unshakable spirit.