: Several elements in the "1999" lettering were borrowed from his previous album, Controversy , including the eyes, a "Rude Boy" pin, jacket studs in the "R," and a smile in the "P".
The hand-drawn cover art for the 1982 album 1999 by is often referred to as a "piece" or a complicated piece of art due to its dense collage of symbolic elements. Prince – 1999
: The cover features early iterations of what would eventually become the iconic Love Symbol. It incorporates separate symbols for peace (☮), femininity (♀), and masculinity (♂). : Several elements in the "1999" lettering were
: The first "1" in the year 1999 is frequently interpreted by fans and scholars as a phallic symbol , reinforcing themes of sexuality that Prince explored throughout his career. It incorporates separate symbols for peace (☮), femininity
The "piece" contains several key hidden and symbolic details :
: A third eye is depicted within the "1" representing the "I" in Prince, which some link to Dadaist influences and Prince's artistic mission.
: Inside the letter "I" in Prince's name, the phrase "and the Revolution" is written in reverse ("dna eht noituloveR"). This was the first visual acknowledgment of his backing band.
