I don't see "Artists" in my left column. Have I got the right left column? (iTunes 12.9.0.164)

Unless the album covers iTunes gives you as "Artist Info" are other images than those in Song > Get Info > Artwork they can be deleted and replaced with whatever images you prefer.

Are they the same images, or are they different ones (that iTunes presumably fetches on the fly)?

And don't forget that it may all boil down to iTunes working from an understanding of "Artist Info" that differs from yours; I can very easily see album covers qualifying as artist info.

I'd like to see a screenshot or two of what you're seeing so I can maybe duplicate your experience. (Just in case: To post a screenshot...
  1. Go to https://imgur.com/upload.
  2. Either drag your screenshot into the window or browse for it.
  3. Click on "Copy" in the next window to copy your screenshot's URL to your clipboard.
  4. Create a link using FTM's "Create a link..." tags...2nd icon from the left.)

The new Great Equalizer is the SEND button.

In Memory of Harv: Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire