“Blue Lagoon” Max Epstein (Canadian, 1932–2002), 1980 serigraph, 32×23", signed & dated, ed. 91/99, bold marsh-water palette.

“Blue Lagoon” Max Epstein (Canadian, 1932–2002), 1980 serigraph, 32×23", signed & dated, ed. 91/99, bold marsh-water palette.

Max Epstein’s “Blue Lagoon” (1980) is a hand-pulled original serigraph in a scarce edition of 99—a luminous, high-contrast waterscape where reeds, shoreline, and reflected light become a near-abstract field of color. Signed, dated, and numbered 91/99, this large-format print (32×23") is a strong example of Epstein’s graphic printmaking language and collector-friendly mid-late 20th century modern aesthetic. 

Artwork Description

In “Blue Lagoon,” Max Epstein translates a quiet wetland scene into a vivid, color-separated print: dense grasses and reeds form a textured screen across the foreground while the water surface breaks into shimmering patches of light. The image reads as both landscape and abstraction—a hallmark of strong serigraph design—where flattened shapes and sharp edge transitions create energy and rhythm. The palette leans into saturated blues contrasted with warm yellows, pinks, and greens, producing a psychedelic/pop-modern punch that still feels rooted in observation.

Medium & technique: As a serigraph (screenprint), the image is built through successive screens—layered inks that produce opaque color fields and crisp silhouettes. The visible “mapped” look of highlights across the water and reeds suggests deliberate separation of tonal zones rather than continuous painterly modeling—very effective at this scale.

Signature & editioning: pencil signature “Max Epstein” at lower right with date “1980”; pencil edition 91/99 at lower left.

Artist Biography

Max Epstein (Canadian, 1932–2002) was a painter, illustrator, sculptor, and printmaker recognized for bold color and a graphic sensibility well-suited to screenprinting. Dealer and auction-market biographies consistently note his birth date as January 16, 1932 and his career spanning both Canada and New York, with active exhibition history in major art centers and a long studio practice across multiple media. 

Training & formation: Epstein’s background is commonly described as including study in Canada and France, and his practice is closely associated with screenprinting/serigraphy during the 1970s–80s—years when the medium flourished for artists working between fine art and graphic design languages.

Exhibitions & collections: Published bios in the marketplace repeatedly state that Epstein exhibited widely (Toronto/New York) and that his work appears in corporate and museum collections, including the Whitney Museum of American Art (as reported in dealer biography text). Because this claim is often repeated through dealer channels rather than easily verifiable through an official museum collection search, it’s best presented as “reported in dealer biographies.” 

Style & working method: Epstein’s strongest prints use screenprinting’s strengths—flat opacity, high chroma, and layered separations—to push landscapes, figures, and symbols toward pattern, rhythm, and near-abstraction. Works dated around 1980 (like Blue Lagoon) often emphasize energized color and graphic edge control—qualities collectors respond to for both art-historical interest and interior impact. 

Max Epstein (Canadian, 1932–2002) — “Blue Lagoon”, 1980, original serigraph/screenprint, signed & dated in pencil, numbered 91/99, sheet 32 × 23 in. (image approx. 28.25 × 18.75 in.), unframed; strong modern color landscape/lagoon scene.

Certificate of Value & Authentication

Certificate of Authenticity & Value
Artist: Max Epstein (Canadian, 1932–2002) 
Title: Blue Lagoon
Year: 1980 (dated in pencil)
Medium: Original serigraph / screenprint (hand-pulled)
Edition: 91/99 (pencil-numbered)
Signature: Hand-signed in pencil (lower right), dated 1980
Dimensions: Sheet 32 × 23 in.; Image 28.25 × 18.75 in.
Condition: Unmatted/unframed; image area appears very good and frameable per owner’s notes; final condition subject to in-hand review.
Provenance: Acquired from Mitch Morse Gallery, New York (gallery source), now held by Artfind Gallery, Washington DC.

Statement: Based on the visible signature, date, and edition notation consistent with the artist’s known screenprint practice and market records, this work is certified as an authentic limited-edition serigraph by Max Epstein, as described above.

Provenance Chain

Max Epstein (artist, created 1980) → Mitch Morse Gallery (NYC; acquisitions sourced NYC, U.S. & Europe) → Artfind Gallery, Washington DC (current owner)