HENRY VAN DE VELDE (1863-1957) ART NOUVEAU FURNISHING FABRIC, CIRCA 1902cotton panel, depicting repeating organic pattern (38cm x 39cm (15in x 15.3in), mounted but unframed) Footnote: Literature: Stoffe um 1900 published Das Textilmuseum, Krefeld, 1977, No. 52, illustrated. Note: Although starting his career as a painter, Henry Van de Velde soon abandoned the practice to focus on architecture and interior design, becoming one of the founders of the Art Nouveau style in Belgium and Germany. Van de Velde was inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement in Britain and started designing buildings and textiles inspired by natural forms and sinuous lines. He was one of the first architects to work to the premise that 'form follows function', trying to ensure that all objects were beautiful and also functional.