It would be unexpected to use quantifiers such as “lesser known artist”, “obscure artist” or “[somewhat] unknown artist” to credit a work. “Artist unknown” means “I (and in some cases, everybody else) don’t know who the artist is”. The only other option is an artist who goes by the name “unknown”, which is even more bizzare.
Yeah, to paraphrase something I once read on the other site, “unknown” doesn’t mean “I don’t know”.
I’d argue that it kinda does in this context.
It would be unexpected to use quantifiers such as “lesser known artist”, “obscure artist” or “[somewhat] unknown artist” to credit a work. “Artist unknown” means “I (and in some cases, everybody else) don’t know who the artist is”. The only other option is an artist who goes by the name “unknown”, which is even more bizzare.