The '' Eraser '' cover art was created by longtime Radiohead artist Stanley Donwood . The artwork , a linocut titled '' London Views '' , depicts a figure standing before London destroyed by flood in imitation of King Canute failing to command the ocean . It was inspired by the 2004 Boscastle flood and an article by the environmentalist Jonathan Porritt comparing the British government 's attitude to climate change to the Canute legend . The album is packaged as a large foldout containing the CD ; Donwood and Yorke wanted to avoid using plastic
Boscastle flood
Boscastle flood of 2004
The Eraser