Hans Olde

Johannes Wilhelm (Hans) Olde (27 April 1855, Süderau – 25 October 1917, Kassel) was a German painter and art school administrator.

[1] He originally planned to follow family tradition and become a farmer but, over his father's strong objections, went to study with Ludwig von Löfftz at the Academy of Fine Arts Munich in 1879.

In 1902, when Olde became director of the Weimar Saxon-Grand Ducal Art School, he began working on plans to create a university and instituted many reforms, including the admission of women.

During this time, Olde, Brütt and Henry van de Velde acted as advisors for Grand Duke Wilhelm Ernst's renovation of Weimar's city center.

Olde became the director of the Royal Academy of Art in Kassel in 1911 and began the process of turning that school into a university as well.