Prince — Monaco Sitting, 1994
Photographic Archive · Editions · Documentation
In May 1994, I was commissioned by MAX Magazine to photograph Prince in Monaco. The resulting session produced one of the most complete photographic records from a single encounter, comprising 117 original medium-format negatives.
Rather than selecting only a few well-known images, this edition presents a carefully curated selection from the complete body of work, including photographs that have never been published before.
Each print is reproduced in the full 6 × 7 cm negative format, including the original film frame, preserving the integrity of the original photograph. Printed to museum standards using archival materials, every edition is individually signed, numbered and accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.
The complete negative archive has remained intact since 1994 and is preserved as part of the Alfred Steffen Archive.
This edition marks the first public release of selected works from that archive.
Prince — focused, precise, present. The Purple One.
Timeline — Prince — Monaco Sitting, Monaco, 1994
3 May 1994
Arrival in Monaco on assignment for MAX Magazine.
Arrival in Monaco on assignment for MAX Magazine.
3 May 1994 – approx. 2:00 PM
Meeting with Prince’s European label representative at the Hôtel de Paris, Monaco.
Meeting with Prince’s European label representative at the Hôtel de Paris, Monaco.
3 May 1994 (a.m.) – approx. 1:00 AM
First surprise concert at Stars ‘N’ Bars, Monaco.
Approximately 300 attendees. Performance duration: approximately 80 minutes.
First surprise concert at Stars ‘N’ Bars, Monaco.
Approximately 300 attendees. Performance duration: approximately 80 minutes.
3 May 1994 – Daytime / Evening
Preparation of the suite at the Hôtel de Paris for the photo session, including lighting setup, backgrounds and Polaroid tests.
Preparation of the suite at the Hôtel de Paris for the photo session, including lighting setup, backgrounds and Polaroid tests.
4 May 1994 – 00:03
Prince enters the suite at the Hôtel de Paris. The photo session begins.
Prince enters the suite at the Hôtel de Paris. The photo session begins.
4 May 1994 – 00:03–00:29
Complete photo session photographed on 117 medium-format negatives.
Complete photo session photographed on 117 medium-format negatives.
During the session
Prince remarked, “You shoot very fast.” I replied, “In German, we say ‘Ratzfatz’—meaning ‘really fast’.” Smiling, he immediately repeated: “Ratzfatz.”
Prince remarked, “You shoot very fast.” I replied, “In German, we say ‘Ratzfatz’—meaning ‘really fast’.” Smiling, he immediately repeated: “Ratzfatz.”
4 May 1994 – 00:29
End of the session after exactly 26 minutes.
End of the session after exactly 26 minutes.
4 May 1994 (a.m.) – approx. 1:00 AM
Second surprise concert at Stars ‘N’ Bars, Monaco.
Approximately 300 attendees. Performance duration: approximately 110 minutes.
Second surprise concert at Stars ‘N’ Bars, Monaco.
Approximately 300 attendees. Performance duration: approximately 110 minutes.
May 1994 – Following days
Film processing, image selection and preparation for publication in MAX Magazine.
Film processing, image selection and preparation for publication in MAX Magazine.
SESSION FACTS
Date
4 May 1994
4 May 1994
Location
Hôtel de Paris, Monaco
Hôtel de Paris, Monaco
Duration
26 minutes
26 minutes
Original Negatives
117
117
Camera
Mamiya RZ67
Mamiya RZ67
Format
6 × 7 cm
6 × 7 cm
Assignment
MAX Magazine
MAX Magazine
Archive
Alfred Steffen Archive
Alfred Steffen Archive
Historical Context
The Monaco Sitting was created between Prince’s two legendary surprise performances at Stars ‘N’ Bars in Monaco, making it one of the very few professionally documented portrait sessions from this unique period of live performances in May 1994.
The complete original negative archive has remained intact since 1994 and is preserved as part of Alfred Steffen’s photographic archive.
PRINCE_Waltz
PRINCE_Come Closer
PRINCE_Side
PRINCE_Hidden Gaze
PRINCE_Rear Portrait
PRINCE_Side Profil
Im Mai 1994 bot sich mir die seltene Gelegenheit, Prince im Hôtel de Paris in Monaco zu fotografieren. Bereits im Vorfeld gab es klare Anweisungen: Ich sollte ihn nicht beim Namen ansprechen — ich sagte „Sir“. Nach mehreren Tagen des Wartens erschien er am 4. Mai zum Termin und begrüßte uns schlicht mit einem „Hi“ — allerdings gleichzeitig in zwei Stimmen, einer warmen, tiefen und einer hohen, fast kieksigen.
Das Shooting war kurz und hochkonzentriert: In nur 26 Minuten entstanden 117 Aufnahmen. Prince arbeitete präzise, kontrolliert und mit außergewöhnlicher Professionalität. Zwischendurch bemerkte er: „You shoot very fast.“ Meine Antwort „Ratzfazz“ amüsierte ihn.
Im Anschluss lud er uns zu seinem Konzert im „Stars ’N’ Bars“ ein. Dort spielte er vor Hotelangestellten und Fans — ein direkter, unvermittelter Moment, der den Tag noch einmal komplett veränderte.
Die Arbeiten werden im vollständigen Negativformat (6 × 7 cm) reproduziert, inklusive des originalen Filmrahmens. Damit bleibt der fotografische Ursprung sichtbar und wird bewusst Teil des Bildes. Jedes Werk verfügt zusätzlich über einen 2 cm breiten Weißrand.
Es handelt sich um eine limitierte Edition, signiert und mit Zertifikat. Produziert in Museumsqualität unter Verwendung archivfester Materialien.
Die Aufnahmen sind Teil eines umfangreicheren Materials, aus dem sich ohne Weiteres ein Buch mit zahlreichen bisher unveröffentlichten Fotografien und etwa 15 persönlichen Anekdoten entwickeln ließe.
Mit dieser Edition mache ich diese Arbeiten erstmals zugänglich.
Prince — konzentriert, präzise, gegenwärtig. The Purple One.
"PRINCE - THE 1994 MONACO SITTING" BENHADJ&DJILALI GALERIE, BERLIN, 2016
Detail "Prince Waltz"
My greatest love
Max Magazine
My exhibition space
