File this in the department of things I didn’t know. Mike Johnston, in talking about the Fuji 56 f/1.2 lens, talks a bit about why a portrait photographer doesn’t necessary want the sharpest lens:

The texture of makeup and temporary pimples just aren’t needed for recognition purposes, and the brain tends to naturally “throw away” that information. It’s not that we don’t see it, but we overlook it. To be psychologically accurate, portrait photographs should too.

Worth reading his post, really interesting thoughts.