“Brother Kissing Sister at Fence” – Original 1936 Harold M. Lambert Hand-Colorized Commercial Art Proof

An original hand-colorized commercial proof created from a documented 1936 photograph by American photographer Harold M. Lambert. The black-and-white source image is archived by Getty Images, confirming attribution and date.

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 crisp white fence and vibrant mid-1930s palette make this piece particularly suited to cottage, farmhouse, or nursery interiors. Framed in white or natural wood, it becomes a charming focal point in a gallery wall of early American commercial photography.

Harold M. Lambert (1917–1969) was an American photographer active from the late 1930s through the 1960s, producing editorial, commercial, and lifestyle imagery during the height of mid-century magazine culture. His work appeared in national publications—including LIFE—as well as travel and promotional outlets such as Trailways Magazine, and in commercial contexts for publishers including Ziff-Davis.

Lambert’s photography is characterized by clean composition, strong tonal control, and an instinct for narrative moments. Surviving prints and hand-colorized commercial proofs reflect the versatility required of mid-century photographers working across both journalistic and promotional assignments. His images remain part of major photographic archives and continue to document American visual culture of the pre- and post-war decades.