The term "handsome" is somewhat out of fashion in our times when referring to a woman, but I have always preferred it to the hackneyed "beautiful" or "pretty", though I do sometimes use "lovely" to describe feminine attractiveness that is deeper than surface glamour or current ideals of the beauty type.
This woman projects a modest, straight-forward confidence in her appearance (her facial structure is very symmetrical, what geneticists claim is the most attracting to humans in a female face, whether to males or females) so she instinctively knows from experience how she is viewed by her companions and associates; she is timeless in any age and fashion.
The photo is a small, fancy cabinet card, early 20th century, by Acker of Bedford, Iowa. It is a good example of the studio art.