Led Zeppelin's iconic fourth album was released 52 years ago today (November 8), and its cover art has been the subject of much conjecture in the decades since, with talk of runes, tarot and the occult. One of the greatest mysteries has been the identify of the painted figure on the front cover, a stooped man with a burden of sticks on his back. Led Zeppelin tried just about every visual trick to make their album covers pop, from die cutting and revisionist history to sci-fi-inspired surrealism and mysterious symbols and objects. One of Previously believed to be a painting, the cover art for Led Zepellin's IV album is actually a photograph of a Victorian thatcher taken in the English countryside in 1892. When the album was released as untitled, it did run into identification problems, and although it quickly became known as Led Zeppelin IV, Atlantic records catalogues used the rather lengthy title Four Symbols and The Fourth Album. It has been the debate on what call the project that has really added to the album's mystique. Mystery Man on 'Led Zeppelin IV' Album Cover Is Finally Identified After 52 Years By Regina Sienra on November 16, 2023 Photo: bertys30/ Depositphotos Upon its release in 1971, Led Zeppelin's untitled fourth studio album known as Led Zeppelin IV, became an instant classic. Led Zeppelin IV was a commercial and critical success upon its November 1971 release, producing many of the band's best-known songs, including "Black Dog", "Rock and Roll", "Misty Mountain Hop", .

led zeppelin iv album art