“Children with Pony” – Original 1940s H. Armstrong Roberts Hand-Colorized Commercial Art Proof

An original hand-colorized commercial proof attributed to pioneering stock photographer H. Armstrong Roberts. The composition matches documented Roberts photographs of the same child models and pony, suggesting this piece originates from the same 1940s studio series.

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.

This pastoral pony scene frames beautifully in natural wood or white, complementing cottage, farmhouse, nursery, or equestrian-themed interiors. The soft hand-applied color and narrative charm make it especially suited for children’s spaces or gallery walls featuring mid-century Americana.

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 that eventually exceeded 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, establishing standards that shaped the commercial photography industry. His archive, later known as Retrofile, continues to influence mid-century advertising aesthetics and remains highly collectible.