The most popular photo in history depicts an encounter between a sailor and a nurse on V-J Day in Times Square on August 14, 1945. This iconic image, titled “V-J Day in Times Square,” was taken by photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt and published in Life magazine. It came to symbolize the excitement and passion felt across America when Victory over Japan was announced. The identities of the sailor and nurse remained unknown for decades, adding to the photo’s mystique. This article uncovers the fascinating story behind the people in the photo and how a chance encounter during a war-ending celebration became etched into history.
The Context: V-J Day Celebrations Across America
On August 14, 1945, President Harry S. Truman announced the surrender of Japan to the Allies, effectively ending World War II. Upon hearing the news, euphoria erupted across America as the nation celebrated Victory over Japan Day, commonly known as V-J Day. In New York City, over two million people took to the streets to participate in the largest celebration in the history of Times Square. Men and women, civilians and military personnel embraced, cheered, and reveled late into the night. The atmosphere was one of pure joy and relief after years of war. This context makes the V-J Day photo resonate so deeply; it encapsulated the national mood and the unbridled emotion felt by all on that momentous day.
The Photographer Behind the Image: Alfred Eisenstaedt
Alfred Eisenstaedt was a German-American photographer renowned for his candid photographs published in Life magazine. On August 14, 1945, Life sent Eisenstaedt to capture V-J Day celebrations in Times Square. Using his trusted Leica IIIa camera, Eisenstaedt took several shots of jubilant people but did not feel he had the perfect photo. Later that evening, he spotted a sailor passionately kissing a nurse amidst the crowd. In a split second, Eisenstaedt fired four shots without even looking through the viewfinder. He later explained, “It was done within a few seconds. That was the moment.” Of the four impromptu photos, one stood out as an iconic representation of the raw emotions felt on V-J Day.
Identifying the Mysterious Sailor and Nurse
For decades, the identities of the kissing couple remained a mystery, adding to the image’s sense of timeless romance. The public was fascinated by the passionate sailor who swept a nurse off her feet. In the late 1970s, Life magazine began an effort to identify the subjects by interviewing over three dozen sailors claiming to be the V-J Day kisser. In 1980, Life confirmed the sailor was George Mendonsa by matching scars and tattoos in the photo to his body. Using forensic anthropology, the nurse was identified in 2005 as Greta Zimmer Friedman. The two were strangers amidst the crowd and never met before or after.
George Mendonsa: The Passionate Sailor
George Mendonsa was a 22-year-old Navy quartermaster on leave after surviving harrowing battles in the Pacific. Seeing the joyous crowds in Times Square ignited an overpowering urge to celebrate. He later recalled, “I saw this nurse, and I grabbed her, and I kissed her.” Mendonsa’s future wife, Rita, can even be glimpsed in the background of the photo watching the impromptu kiss unfold. When interviewed, Mendonsa said kissing the pretty nurse was an overwhelming “feeling of excitement that it’s all over.” He never got her name and was simply living in the moment.
Greta Zimmer Friedman: The Surprised Nurse
Greta Zimmer Friedman was a 21-year-old dental assistant dressed in her nurse’s uniform after a long day’s work. She found herself caught up in the jubilant crowds where Mendonsa suddenly grabbed and passionately dipped her backwards to plant a kiss. She later shared, “I did not see him approaching, and before I know it I was in this vice grip.” Caught by surprise, her body went limp from the overzealous kiss. However, the moment encapsulated the unrestrained emotions felt by all on V-J Day, so she did not protest or feel violated by the impulsive smooch.
Why the Photo Resonated with the World
Alfred Eisenstaedt’s photograph of Mendonsa kissing Friedman amidst the rapturous V-J Day celebrations gained renown for encapsulating the unfettered emotions experienced worldwide upon finally defeating the Axis powers.
The photo resonated deeply because:
- It captured the passion and urgency of celebrating the end of years of brutal war
- The sailor represented the thousands of military men elated to be returning home
- A stranger kissing a nurse personified victory and hope for a peaceful future
- The spontaneity of the encounter conveyed the impromptu joy across America
- The timeless quality of an anonymous man and woman in an embrace resonated universally
This candid photo immortalized the euphoric communal relief felt on V-J Day in a pure, unscripted moment in time.
Why the Photo Remains So Popular Today
Seventy-five years after it was taken, Alfred Eisenstaedt’s photograph remains the most popular image of the 20th century. It endures as an cultural icon due to:
- Its representation of the uninhibited celebration marking the end of World War II
- The feeling of joy, love, and optimism it conveys to all viewers
- Its romantic yet innocent nature of an anonymous sailor kissing a nurse
- The sense of suspense from the dipping pose and flowing dress
- The timeless passion and spontaneity encapsulated in one click of a camera
To this day, V-J Day in Times Square serves as a symbol of victory, peace, and love conquering war. It remains a testament to the power of photography to freeze raw human emotion in a single frame for all time.
The Photo’s Lasting Place in History
Alfred Eisenstaedt’s V-J Day photograph has earned a lasting place in historical memory for perfectly capturing the jubilation felt across America on August 14, 1945. Some key reasons it remains so iconic include:
- Published in Life magazine, it reached homes across America in 1945
- One of the most famous news photos documenting the end of World War II
- Featured in books, magazines, films, and documentaries for decades
- The only photograph to become symbolically linked to V-J Day
- The sailor dipping & spontaneously kissing a nurse are forever imprinted in the cultural imagination
- Preserved in the National Archives and Library of Congress as a national treasure
This single emotional photograph has become part of the collective consciousness, bringing to life the passion and energy felt on the day Japan surrendered, ending World War II. For generations to come, it will endure as a triumphant representation of love, freedom, and victory.
Conclusion
Alfred Eisenstaedt’s image of an anonymous sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square on V-J Day in 1945 remains the most famous photograph of the 20th century. What began as an impromptu smooch to celebrate the end of World War II became an iconic representation of love and hope overcoming war’s adversity. This unscripted image distilled the euphoria and energy felt across America into one timeless photo that still resonates powerfully 75 years later. While the identities of the kissing strangers were eventually uncovered, their anonymity initially added to its mystique and universal appeal. For generations, this passionate kiss in Times Square will endure as the consummate symbol of joy emerging from one of history’s darkest hours.
