Alfred Eisenstaedt’s kissing sailor has died at the age of 95. George Mendonsa was so overjoyed at the end of the war in Europe in 1945 that he stole a kiss in Times Square from a passing dental assistant who was wearing a nurse’s uniform. Captured by Alfred Eisenstadt, the resulting image is has become one of the most iconic shots of the 20th Century. And it was taken on a Leica.
Mendonsa
Since then, anyone in a sailor suit has been happy to pose for a re-run, as I discovered here at the Brooklands Military Day in 2014.
The difference between the two images – the top one, and original one was shot at time of emotional victory, of relief that war had ended and we were no longer under threat. Thus is carries a more emotional feel captured in that single moment.
What I find sad about this image, is that in recent years it has been picked over by people suggesting it was potentially sexual assault, and a variety of other modern inventions. Lets be honest now of us younger generations know what its like to survive a war, in reality.