When it comes to illustrating their music, many creative musicians make reference to past art movements, world events, iconic designs and photographers within the artwork of their records. It’s a great way to nab an iconic image – but more importantly to pay homage to their inspiration, make reference to key issues and express the mood or genre of the music. I first noticed this when spotting a record sleeve design (“Reelin’ in the years” by Steely Dan) that combined a defaced photograph by iconic photographer Diane Arbus. You can spot so many with such a vast ocean of music artwork around. Here is a little selection we spotted:
Left: Franz Ferdinand “Franz Ferdinand” Right: Iconic Poster Design from the Constructivist Movement
Left: Miike Snow “Paddling Out” Right: “Twins” by Diane Arbus
Left: Birds of Passage “Winter Lady” Right: Illustration by Charles Keeping from “The Highwayman” by Alfred Noyes
Left: The White Stripes “De Stijl” Right: The Rietveld Schroder House. Typical architectural design from the De Stijl Movement.
Left: Coldplay “Viva la Vida” Right: “Liberty Leading the People” by Eugène Delacroix
Disclaimer: We are not attempting to take any credit for the above work – we have had nothing to do with any of the designs shown. If you have any questions regarding this please contact us.
Share