The Postdoc-Forum Frankreichforschung is an independent platform fostering networking and professional exchange among historians and art historians who are at a stage of advanced academic and professional qualification (e.g., a habilitation, or a second publication; appointed as a junior chair or a leader of a research group; engaged in a research project in a museum, etc.) and who work either entirely or partly on questions concerning French art and theory, with attention to transcultural perspectives. The forum encourages participants to undertake collaborative events and projects. In addition, it aims to make visible – at the national and international levels – research carried out on France at various university and extra-university institutions in the German-speaking regions.

In fall 2017, on the occasion of a launch event at the DFK Paris, the Postdoc-Forum was founded at the initiative of Elisabeth Fritz (at that time: Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, Jena) and Xenia Ressos (at that time: Leopold-Franzens-Universität, Innsbruck). The gatherings bring participants together in a different place each year, providing opportunities for exchange internally, for the creation of institutional networks, and for dialogue around current projects. Thus far, network meetings have been held at Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf (16 November 2018, organization: Wiebke Windorf, Barbara Stoltz); at the Zentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte, Munich (15-16 November 2018, organization: Manuela Klauser, Hui Luan Tran); in a web-conference format (13 November 2020, organization: Lisa Hecht, Elisabeth Fritz); at Universität Wien (in a hybrid format, 10-11 December 2021, organization: Stefan Albl, Marthe Kretschmar); at Philipps-Universität, Marburg (30 September-1 October 2022, organization: Lisa Hecht, Brigitte Sahler); and at Universität Trier (21-22 June 2023, organization: Markus Rath, Thomas Moser); and at the Universität Tübingen (13-15 November 2025, organization: Iris Brahms, Paul Mellenthin, Sven Janzen).

The Postdoc-Forum, which currently has around 70 members, welcomes colleagues who are at a stage of advanced qualification in their academic career; in addition, a record of cooperation with both doctoral students and established researchers is highly encouraged.  

The next network meeting will take place during the 38th Congress of Art History in Munich: Wednesay, February 25, 2026, from 4 pm to 6 pm  at the Institute of Art History, Zentenerstrasse 31, 80798 Munich, Room 004, Ground Floor, oganisation: Daniela Stöppel. Those interested in participating may contact the organizers: d.stoeppel@lmu.de. 

The attached PDFs contain the programs of past events and list of the members and their research projects.

To remain informed of the activities of the Postdoc-Forum Frankreichforschung, or with inquiries concerning a future partnership, contact the network’s point persons:

• Dr. Iris Brahms (Universität Tübingen): iris.brahms@uni-tuebingen.de
• Dr. Paul Mellenthin (Universität Tübingen): paul.mellenthin@uni-tuebingen.de
• Dr. Svea Janzen (Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena): svea.janzen@uni-jena.de

Former spokespersons:

• PD Dr. Elisabeth Fritz (Founder and network's point person from 2017 to 2025)
• Dr. Xenia Ressos (Founder and network's point person from 2017 to 2019)
• Dr. Lisa Hecht (Network's point person from 2020 to 2025)