Henri Epstein (Polish/French 1891/92-1944), oil on canvas depicting a vibrant still life of a vase of red geraniums beside a stack of books with a small portrait leaning against the spines, and a pair of spectacles resting on top of two sheets of paper, artist signed 'H. Epstein' at lower right, 23"h x 19"w, overall dimensions including frame 28.5"h x 24.5"w x 2"d. Henri Epstein, the son of a bookseller, began his artistic training at the Jakub Kacenbogen School of Drawing before attending the Munich Academy of Fine Arts. After serving in the Polish army, Epstein moved to La Ruche, a city of artists with over sixty workshops in the 15th arrondissement of Paris in 1913 where he became well acquainted with Amedeo Modigliani, Chaim Soutine, and other celebrated artists of the day. Tragically, Epstein died during his deportation to Auschwitz in 1944 at the age of 53.