Abstract: A large number of cover and book illustrations in the works of modern Chinese literature form rich and colorful picture images. Based on the observations of these illustrations, three major image modes have been found, which is “cryout” image mode, bifacial image mode and “free spirit” image mode. By using the method of iconograhpy and semiotics this essay aims to expound lots of images of these three modes. And it has been found that these three modes represent three different times: “cryout” mode representing the May Fourth period; bifacial mode representing the period of the late 1920s and 1930s; “free spirit” mode representing the period of the 1930s and 1940s. These three modes illustrate the picture images of modern Chinese literature, reflecting the historical changes of the theme of times of modern Chinese literature over thirty years.