André De Takacs
Hungarian, 1880-1919
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André C. De Takacs was an illustrator. His artwork features on the covers of sheet music. He produced art for posters, postcards, and film company promotions. He also wrote music and poetry. The Smithsonian Libraries have some of his song sheet covers in their collection. The University of South Carolina's Tin Pan Alley Sheet Music Collection also includes his work.
He used several distinctive signatures and marks. His work includes covers from the era when minstrel performers were still popular and depictions of African Americans are based on stereotypes.
He immigrated to the U.S. from Hungary where his father was a count. He died at the age of 39, reportedly of a heart attack in a New York City taxi on the way to the hospital. His wife, Elizabeth "Bessie" Schenkel, took her life several years later. They had two daughters, one of them, Edythe Jepson, also became an artist.