V-J Day in Times Square

V-J Day in Times Square
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Title	V-J Day in Times Square
Photographer	Alfred Eisenstaedt
Subject	George Mendonsa, Greta Zimmer Friedman
Date	August 14, 1945
Location	Times Square, New York City
Publication	Life

V-J Day in Times Square. Also known as The Kiss, this iconic photograph by Alfred Eisenstaedt captured an impromptu celebration in Times Square on August 14, 1945, the day Japan announced its surrender, ending World War II. Published in *Life* magazine, the image of a sailor kissing a nurse became one of the most famous symbols of the Allied victory and the ensuing jubilation across the United States. The identities of the subjects, later identified as George Mendonsa and Greta Zimmer Friedman, were not confirmed for decades, adding to the photograph's enduring mystery and cultural resonance.

Background and context

The photograph was taken on V-J Day, which marked the culmination of the Pacific War following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Soviet invasion of Manchuria. News of the Japanese surrender was announced by President Harry S. Truman from the White House, triggering spontaneous celebrations across major American cities like New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Times Square, a traditional hub for public gatherings near landmarks like the Broadway theaters and the New York Times Building, became a focal point for massive crowds. The mood reflected widespread relief after years of conflict that included pivotal events like the Battle of Midway, the D-Day landings in Normandy, and the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

The photograph

Working on assignment for *Life*, photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt, who had previously captured notable figures like Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, moved through the celebrating throngs in Times Square. Using a Leica camera, he took four frames of a sailor in the uniform of the United States Navy enthusiastically kissing a woman dressed as a nurse, later revealed to be a dental assistant. The image, selected by *Life*'s picture editor John Loengard, was published a week later alongside other victory celebrations, such as those in San Francisco's Chinatown. The composition, with its blurred background featuring the Schrafft's restaurant sign and the Astor Hotel, perfectly conveyed the spontaneous joy of the moment.

Cultural impact and legacy

The photograph quickly ascended to iconic status, becoming a defining visual shorthand for the end of World War II in the American consciousness. It has been endlessly reproduced in media such as The Washington Post, textbooks, and documentaries about the Home front during World War II. The image inspired numerous artistic homages, including the sculpture *Unconditional Surrender* by J. Seward Johnson Jr., and has been referenced in films like *Forrest Gump* and television shows like *The Simpsons*. It is held in the archives of Time Inc. and the Library of Congress, and its subjects were later featured in programs on NBC and the History Channel.

Controversies and analysis

The photograph has been the subject of significant debate, particularly regarding the nature of the encounter. While long celebrated as a symbol of joyous spontaneity, later accounts from Greta Zimmer Friedman described the kiss as a non-consensual act, a perspective that has led modern critics to re-evaluate the image through the lens of sexual assault and patriarchy. Discussions often contrast it with a similar, more clearly posed photograph taken that same day by U.S. Navy photographer Victor Jorgensen, published in The New York Times. Scholars and institutions like the National Archives have examined its context within the broader social norms of the 1940s and its representation of gender roles in the era of Rosie the Riveter.

Commemorations and anniversaries

Major anniversaries of V-J Day have often featured reunions or reflections on the photograph. On the 50th anniversary in 1995, *Life* organized a commemorative event in Times Square, and the United States Postal Service issued a postage stamp featuring the image. The 60th anniversary saw interviews with the aging subjects on major networks like CBS. Following the deaths of George Mendonsa in 2019 and Greta Zimmer Friedman in 2016, obituaries in The Guardian and The Boston Globe revisited their stories. Permanent installations like the sculpture in Sarasota, Florida, and ongoing exhibitions at museums such as the International Center of Photography in New York City continue to commemorate the moment. Category:1945 photographs Category:World War II in popular culture Category:History of New York City