Lot 114: ADOLF ECHTLER, (GERMAN 1843-1914), PEERING THROUGH THE BRUSH

ADOLF ECHTLER
(german 1843-1914)
PEERING THROUGH THE BRUSH
Signed, located and dated ''Ad. Echtler/Venezia/''69'' bottom right, oil on canvas, painted in the oval
42 3/4 x 32 in. (108.6 x 81.3cm)
provenance:
Tajan, Paris, sale of May 31, 2001, lot 223.
The Estate of Horst Rechelbacher, Osceola, Wisconsin.
note:
Horst Rechelbacher (1914-2014) was, in addition to being an avid collector of fine art, a true pioneer in the field of natural cosmetics in the U.S. Born to an herbalist and shoemaker, his family apartment was nearby a salon in his hometown of Klagenfurt, Austria. Rechelbacher was drawn to the salon industry, and developed a keen interest in plant-based personal care and aromatherapy. He was also an organic farmer, author, speaker, artist, and a great collector, including collecting paintings, including the Orientalist-themed works in the present auction.
As a young man, Horst won numerous European Junior Hairdressing Championships and international hairdressing awards, ultimately creating his own apprentice program, which became the Horst Education Center, later known as the Aveda Institute. Aveda was founded in 1978 and the company expanded to create various product lines for hair, body care, makeup, aromatherapy and lifestyle products, all created with his commitment to maintaining a sustainable, natural approach.
Almost two decades after Rechelbacher incorporated, he sold Aveda to Estée Lauder. Not long thereafter, he went on to create Intelligent Nutrients - a health and beauty company that is centered on creating skin, hair, body, aroma and lifestyle products using only 100% food based, safe, non-toxic and certified organically grown ingredients.
Throughout his career, Horst remained true to his vision of bringing truth and transparency to the beauty and cosmetics industry, even in the face of increasing environmental degradation and a changing cosmetic industry that relies on false ''green'' marketing claims.
Freeman''s is very pleased to offer a selection of artworks from the Horst Rechelbacher Collection in this auction. The same passion that fueled Horst''s interest in personal care is evident in the fine, eclectic group of artworks he carefully collected over a decade and a half. The following lots 114 through 140 are oils, watercolors and pastels associated with ''Orientalism'' - a genre of painting affiliated with scenes, styles, motifs and culture drawn from the Middle East and North Africa, and frequently included odalisques, merchants and harems.