It takes a genius to make a woman see the man she loves as others see him. Originally published in “Hearst’s International–Cosmopolitan” magazine in 1940, “The Portrait” is A. J. Cronin’s longish short story (about 6,500 words) of temperamental Katrine and her two husbands. After she leaves unassuming artist Rankin Earnshaw for selfish, conceited opera singer Félix Liseta, Rankin sends Katrine and Félix a gift: a large portrait of Liseta that exposes his soul—and nearly drives Katrine mad.
