The White Stripes “Elephant” Album Art

Elephant by The White Stripes was released on April 1 of the year 2003 through V2 Records in the United States and XL Records in England. It was the fourth studio album from the rock duo and garnered plenty of critical acclaim. The work was also nominated for several categories during the 46th annual Grammy Awards and is arguably their most popular to date, with singles like Seven Nation Army.

The White Stripe’s sound within Elephant could be described as garage rock and alt rock, drawing some inspiration from the blues and folk genres. However, when it comes to the album’s artwork, their musical style may not be initially conveyed from a single glance.

Jack White, the band’s guitarist and lead vocalist, is credited with Elephant’s art direction and Patrick Pantano as the photographer (Stafford). The cover features the former husband and wife duo in theatrical positions, with Jack gazing of intently to an unknown view outside of the frame and Meg White (drummer of The White Stripes) crying while they sit upon a chest. There are even more subtle details such as a pile of peanut shells at Meg’s feet and Jack holding a cricket bat. Many theories have been put foward as to what the cover’s concept could mean due to these elements. Although, in an interview Jack mentions that the pair are supposed to resemble elephant ears from a front facing view while simultaneously producing a side view of an elephant with tusks off either side. The band has since become known for the black and red color scheme that dons the cover (Juxtapoz Magazine).

Another statement of note is the varied versions of the Elephant album cover artwork. There are at least six different versions having been released across the US and UK. One of the noticeable differences is the color of Meg’s dress changing from white to black.

Works Cited

Juxtapoz Magazine. “Sound and Vision: The White Stripes ‘Elephant.’” Juxtapoz Magazine, 14 July 2019, www.juxtapoz.com/news/music/sound-and-vision-the-white-stripes-elephant/.

Stafford, James. “Cover Stories: The White Stripes, ‘Elephant.’” Diffuser.Fm, D, 8 Oct. 2015, diffuser.fm/cover-stories-the-white-stripes-elephant/.