I'd say you're right. The lighting draws a line down the middle of her face; our brains don't like asymmetry so arranging the lighting and expression like that

I'd say you're right. The lighting draws a line down the middle of her face; our brains don't like asymmetry so arranging the lighting and expression like that has intent. No photographer trying to capture a regular image would have the light fall like that, and it would be very hard/lucky to get it to do it "by accident"