'artfulness' originates from English, specifically formed by adding the suffix '-ness' to 'artful', where '-ness' meant 'state or quality'.

'artful' developed in Middle English as 'art' + the formative suffix '-ful'; 'art' itself comes from Old French 'art', from Latin 'ars, artis'.

Initially it meant 'skill or craft' (from 'art'), but over time the sense broadened to include 'cunning or deceit' in some contexts.