University of Michigan student couple engaged in an impromptu kiss, which was forbidden conduct even before school ban, because earlier rules required couples to have both feet on the floor, in the Union Building on campus. 1957.Grey Villet—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Sometimes you need a reason to give another person a kiss. And, as was the case in probably the most famous kissing photo of all time, that reason can be a big one (victory in World War II). But, other times, a kiss is its own reason to celebrate.
Whatever you want to call it — a peck, a smooch, a snog — a kiss communicates love in a way that few other acts can match. How people started kissing is a mystery and why we do it is complicated, but, from a child’s sweet kiss to a lover’s sexy kiss (or a walrus’ whiskery one, as the case may be), the act is a language of its own. And a photograph of a kiss, it follows, captures that feeling.
Here, with a look back at 40 years of kisses from LIFE Magazine’s archives of iconic 20th century photography, that fact is as clear as ever.
Shadows on the ground of kissing figures with camera on tripod between, 1930.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesTwo walruses kissing as they eat from a hand between them at the Brookfield zoo, 1938.William Vandivert—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesA man and woman kissing while geared to a lie detector machine to measure the emotional reaction,1939.Herbert Gehr—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty ImagesCouple kissing in front of the Delta Tau Delta mummy at the University of the South. Girls are told: "Kiss mummy or kiss me." 1940.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesActress Marilyn Hare being kissed by soldiers. Caption from LIFE. "Surrounded by her work, Marilyn [Hare] collects repayment in kind while throngs wait to manifest their gratitude. A graduate of Flushing High School, Long Island, N.Y., Marilyn is now under contract to Republic pictures. She can cook, too." 1942.John Florea—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesMultiple exposure of Deanna Durbin and Edmond O'Brien walking toward each other and kissing; from motion picture "Tonight and Forever." 1942.Gjon Mili—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesCouple in Penn Station sharing farewell kiss before he ships off to war during WWII. 1943.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesMrs. Martini, wife of the Bronx Zoo lion keeper, kissing a tiger cub. 1944.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesA jubilant American sailor clutching a nurse in a back-bending, passionate kiss as he vents his joy while thousands jam the Times Square area to celebrate the long awaited victory over Japan. 1945.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesA little boy dressed as Uncle Sam, kissing a little girl on the cheek.1945.Frank Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesNewly wed couple Marshall Jacobs and wife Yolanda kiss after being married atop a flagpole. 1946.Allan Grant—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty ImagesPeggy Lee getting a goodnight kiss on the nose from her 4-year-old daughter Nicki at home. 1948.Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesBaseball player Yogi Berra getting kiss from his wife, Carmen, before he leaves for clubhouse. 1949.George Silk—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesGallant tiger bowing to kiss hand of flapper Barbara Pettit. 1949.Martha Holmes—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesChristina Goldsmith tenderly kissing a Weimaraner puppy, which she took from a new litter of her father's stock since he is a top breeder of Weimaraner hunting dogs. 1950.Bernard Hoffman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesJosephine Baker receiving congratulatory kiss on the nose from her husband, orchestra leader Jo Bouillon, after her show at the Strand theater during her US tour. 1951.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesJill Corey giving her grandmother, "Mamouch", a kiss on the forehead. 1953.Gordon Parks—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesIrish McCalla as "Sheena Queen of the Jungle" kissing her chimpanzee costar. 1955.Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesElvis Presley tenderly embracing and kissing the cheek of a female admirer backstage before his concert, 1956.Robert W. Kelley—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesUniversity of Michigan student couple engaged in an impromptu kiss, which was forbidden conduct even before school ban, because earlier rules required couples to have both feet on the floor, in the Union Building on campus. 1957.Grey Villet—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesRichard Ramsey, worker in cosmetic company covered with relics of iipstick kisses to prove that dyes in lipsticks are harmless. 1960.Yale Joel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesSteve McQueen kisses Natalie Wood's hand as the actors meet to discuss their new big-screen project, 1963's "Love With the Proper Stranger."John Dominis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesAstronaut Gus "Virgil" Grissom kissing his mother after his successful Gemini 3 mission, 1965.
Ralph Morse—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesDustin Hoffman kissing his wife, 1969.John Dominis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesOberlin College students kissing in a co-ed dorm. 1970.Bill Ray—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
