Ha Ha! You call it "totally predictable responses" . I think it was meant to be predictable. It's like when you have a glass of wine. You're SUPPOSED to have a pleasant little buzz. You go into the forest; you're supposed to see a variety of greens and hear the wind shushing. You go to a yoga retreat; everyone is calm. You can see it and feel it. Our response to this painting of two pensive, thoughtful women is literally a result of the evidence before our eyes.