Prince – The Face Magazine Cover (September 1990) “Graffiti Bridge”

Iconic September 1990 cover of the influential UK style bible The Face, featuring a striking close-up portrait of Prince during the Graffiti Bridge era — a period of creative transition and bold reinvention.

PUBLICATION: Date: September 1990 (Issue No. 24)

Country: United Kingdom

Title: THE FACE Price: £1.50 (UK)

Cover Story: “COURT IN THE ACT: THE MAKING OF GRAFFITI BRIDGE”

THE STORY

This powerful cover showcases Prince in a brooding, intimate black-and-white tinted portrait with intense eye contact. The headline teases an exclusive inside feature on the making of Graffiti Bridge, Prince’s ambitious 1990 film and soundtrack project. The issue also includes other 1990 cultural highlights such as Paul Gascoigne and various style/music pieces.

CONTEXT AND NOTES

Graffiti Bridge (released November 1990) marked Prince’s return to narrative filmmaking after Purple Rain and Under the Cherry Moon. The project blended romance, spiritual themes, and high-energy performances. This The Face cover captures the anticipation and mystique surrounding the project during a time when Prince was experimenting with his image — shorter hair, more mature aesthetic — and navigating the shift into the 1990s.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

Era: Graffiti Bridge (1990)

Tone: Stylish, intense, editorial Photography: Dramatic close-up portrait emphasizing Prince’s piercing gaze and facial features

Design: Bold red masthead, teal “PRINCE” lettering, minimalist yet powerful layout typical of The Face

WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS

• Full front cover of The Face magazine featuring Prince

• High-impact portrait photography

• Period-accurate 1990 typography and design

RELATED MATERIAL

• Prince (1990) Nude Tour Souvenir – Birmingham NEC (Evening Mail)

• Prince (1990) Graffiti Bridge Film & Soundtrack Coverage

• Earlier: Cat Glover Sky Magazine feature (1988)

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All magazine scans, photographs and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.