In the 1920s, sheet music featured striking illustrations that conveyed the energetic and celebratory mood of the time. These affordable paper products allowed people to engage with the era’s vibrant musical culture directly at home. Publishers recognized the images’ power and sought out collaborations with celebrated illustrators and artists. These covers enticed potential buyers and showcased the latest fashion and trends. This fusion of music and visual art not only enhanced the appeal of the songs but also contributed to the broader aesthetic movement of the decade, leaving a legacy in the history of graphic design and popular culture.
Sydney Leff (1901-2005) Cover of Who Wouldn’t (New York: Irving Berlin, Inc.,1926) Helen Farr Sloan Library & Archives, Delaware Art Museum
Sidney Leff began his career as a commerical artist when he was still in high school, and was one of the most prolific and successful sheet music illustrators of the 1920s. Renowned for his efficiency, he often produced three or four cover designs each day, ultimately creating over 2,000 unique illustrations.
Sydney Leff (1901-2005) Cover of I'm Gonna Charleston Back to Charleston (New York: Jerome H. Remick & Co.,1925) Helen Farr Sloan Library & Archives, Delaware Art Museum
Listen to I'm Gonna Charleston Back to Charlestonhere.
Sydney Leff (1901-2005) Cover of Yes Sir! That's My Baby (New York: Irving Berlin, Inc.,1925) Helen Farr Sloan Library & Archives, Delaware Art Museum
Albert Wilfred Barbelle (1887-1957) Cover of There's Something Nice About Everyone But There's Everything Nice About You (New York: Henry Waterson, Inc., 1927) Helen Farr Sloan Library & Archives, Delaware Art Museum
Listen to There's Something Nice About Everyone But There's Everything Nice About Youhere.
Albert Wilfred Barbelle (1887-1957) Cover of Is She My Girl Friend? (New York: Ager, Yellen & Bornstein, Inc., 1927) Helen Farr Sloan Library & Archives, Delaware Art Museum
John Van Buren Ranck (1875-1965) Cover of I Had Someone Else Before I Had You (New York: Leo Feist, Inc., 1924) Helen Farr Sloan Library & Archives, Delaware Art Museum
Listen to I Had Someone Else Before I Had Youhere.
Unknown artist Cover of Lover, Come Back to Me (New York: Harms Inc., 1928) Helen Farr Sloan Library & Archives, Delaware Art Museum
The operetta The New Moon opened on Broadway in 1928. Though it is set in the 18th century, the illustration on the cover of the sheet music features a flapper dressed as a pirate.
