9V-J Day in Times Square (1945)
This iconic photograph, taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt on August 14, 1945, shows a sailor kissing a nurse in New York City’s Times Square on Victory over Japan Day (V-J Day). The image captures the euphoria of the end of World War II. The spontaneous embrace of two strangers became a lasting symbol of relief, joy, and the profound human connection that arises in moments of great national and global importance. It continues to be one of the most recognizable and celebrated images of the 20th century.
