However, many famous paintings are attributed to "Unknown Artists" because:
* The artist's name was never recorded. This is common with older artworks, especially those from ancient civilizations or early medieval periods.
* The artist's identity is lost to history. Over time, records can be destroyed, forgotten, or misinterpreted, leading to the artist's name becoming unknown.
* Attribution is debated. Art historians might disagree about who created a particular work.
Here are some examples of famous paintings by "Unknown Artists":
* The Mona Lisa: While Leonardo da Vinci is widely recognized as the creator, some art historians believe it might have been a collaboration or even painted by a student.
* The Venus de Milo: This ancient Greek statue was discovered in 1820, but the sculptor remains unknown.
* The Ghent Altarpiece: While the overall creation is attributed to the Van Eyck brothers, some panels are thought to be by other artists, making the full authorship unclear.
* The Lascaux Cave Paintings: These prehistoric works of art are attributed to "Unknown Artists" as they date back to around 17,000 BC, long before recorded history.
* The "Girl with a Pearl Earring" by Johannes Vermeer: While Vermeer's signature is absent from the painting, it's generally accepted to be his work. However, the lack of clear documentation has led to some questioning the attribution.
In essence, "Unknown Artist" is a category, not a specific individual. Many famous paintings fall under this category due to the reasons mentioned above.