OE
The clues “bifurcated” and “but” signal a contrast: commercial portrait painters are similar to other painters in some ways, but the blank refers to how they are in some ways different than those other painters (they try to make the subject look more attractive in the painting). The correct answer, “artifices,” means a trickery or deception and fits perfectly with the clue. Trap answers “palettes” and “aesthetics” are related to painting, but don’t match the meaning of the blank. “Artifacts” is a trap word that looks similar to “artifices” but means a historic relic. “Sentiments” is an attitude, but the sentence provides no information about the painter’s attitude or how that would make the subject of the piece more attractive.
Answer: E