I am convinced that the scissors should remain in the drawer for all the reasons I went on about yesterday. But I'd like to hear more based on this side-by-side. The scissors will always be there.
Thanks for the response, folks.
Rick
A compromise to consider:
Better than the original crop. But I still think it lacks the ballast, and the lift toward the region in the top image. A part of the painting not to look at but one that needs to be there. The darkness--at the standpoint of the viewer looking out and up.