Girl with Daffodil – Original 1939 H. Armstrong Roberts Hand-Colorized Commercial Art Proof

An original hand-colorized commercial proof created from a documented 1939 photograph by pioneering stock photographer H. Armstrong Roberts. The black-and-white source image is archived by Getty Images, confirming date and attribution.

H. Armstrong Roberts (1883–1947) was a pioneering American photographer and founder of one of the earliest large-scale stock photography libraries. Originally a journalist, Roberts began producing his own images when suitable photographs proved difficult to obtain. By the 1920s he had developed an archive exceeding half a million negatives, supplying publishers and advertisers worldwide.

Roberts is credited with producing one of the first true stock photographs—Group in Front of Tri Motor Airplane (1920)—notable for its use of model releases. His archive, later known as Retrofile, continues to influence mid-century advertising aesthetics and remains highly collectible.

Historical Note

This commercial art proof was acquired in Joliet, Illinois, historically home to the Gerlach-Barklow Company, one of the leading American art calendar publishers of the early twentieth century. While the print itself is unmarked, the discovery location reflects the broader Midwestern calendar printing industry active during this period.

The dramatic black background and vibrant daffodil make this piece especially striking when matted in white and framed in simple wood or black. Ideal for nursery spaces, spring décor, or collectors of early American portrait photography. Its intimate scale makes it well suited for gallery wall groupings.