Henry van de Velde was a Belgian architect, designer, and painter known for his significant contributions to the Art Nouveau movement. He played a crucial role in shaping the ethos of the Bauhaus through his progressive ideas on design education and integration of art and industry. Van de Velde's influence on the Bauhaus can be seen in his advocacy for a holistic approach to design, emphasizing the importance of merging craftsmanship with modern industrial techniques. His tenure as the director of the Grand-Ducal Saxon School of Arts and Crafts in Weimar laid the foundation for the Bauhaus's interdisciplinary curriculum, which sought to unite art, craft, and technology. Van de Velde's emphasis on functionalism, simplicity, and the synthesis of form and function resonated deeply with the Bauhaus ethos, shaping its pedagogical principles and contributing to its legacy as a pioneering institution in modern design education.