Before the advent of television and radio, America kept themselves entertained with songs and singing. You could find a piano in almost every parlor, and there was an enormous demand for easy-to-read printed song sheets for pianists. In the early days of music publishing, song sheets used little more than ornate lettering on song titles to create visual interest on the cover. But over time, music publishers decided that in order to increase their song sheet sales – and differentiate themselves from the competition – they should incorporate artwork into each cover. Thus, the cover art of the song sheet was born. Prominent artists of the day, including Winslow Homer, Whistler and Currier, created beautiful images for sheet music, visually enhancing the musical experience for everyone.

 

Lithographs