Victoria von Flemming

Victoria von Flemming is a tenured Professor of Medieval and Modern Art History at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste Braunschweig (HBK Braunschweig) since 2005. She previously held visiting professorships at Humboldt University in Berlin and other institutions. Her academic journey began with studies in art history, Romance studies, German studies, sociology, and philosophy at Christian-Albrechts-Universität in Kiel, followed by doctoral research at Freie Universität Berlin where she graduated summa cum laude in 1991 with her dissertation "Arma amoris. Sprachbild und Bildsprache der Liebe."

Her research spans multiple interconnected domains with particular emphasis on Vanitas symbolism across historical periods, the presence of the past in contemporary visual culture, and theoretical frameworks including interpictoriality and repetition theory. She has developed significant expertise in analyzing how historical motifs like Vanitas reappear in contemporary artistic practices, creating bridges between medieval, early modern, and current visual cultures. Her work frequently examines gender construction and postcolonial perspectives within art historical frameworks.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on Vanitas motifs across different media and historical periods. She has developed a sophisticated theoretical approach connecting repetition theory with Vanitas symbolism, examining how motifs recur across centuries while adapting to contemporary contexts. Her research demonstrates particular strength in interdisciplinary approaches, connecting art history with literary studies, philosophy, and cultural theory. The thematic clusters in her work include Baroque-modern-postmodern relationships, photographic dispositives, archival practices, and still life studies.

• Doctoral scholarship at Max Planck Institute for Art History (Bibliotheca Hertziana), Rome (1987-1990)
• Postdoctoral fellowship at Max Planck Institute for Art History (Bibliotheca Hertziana), Rome (1992-1993)
• Scholarship from Berlin Senate to promote young female researchers (1991)
• DAAD research grant for studies in Turin, Bologna, Paris, and London (1987)

Professor von Flemming has successfully secured substantial third-party funding for research projects and young academics. She co-led the DFG Research Training Group 1843 "The Photographic Device" (2012-2019), securing approximately €2 million in funding for this interdisciplinary collaboration between art history, media studies, design, and fine arts. She also directed the "Vanitas in Contemporary Art" project funded by the Fritz Thyssen Foundation (2019-2022) in cooperation with Prof. Dr. Claudia Benthien. Additionally, through the Pro*Niedersachsen program, she raised funds to create a catalog of the Herzog August Bibliothek Wolfenbüttel's painting collection.

She leads the subprojects "Still Lifes/Still Lifes" and "Archiving" within the DFG Research Training Group framework, demonstrating her leadership in interdisciplinary research teams focused on visual culture and historical representation. Her work with the Herzog August Bibliothek Wolfenbüttel shows her commitment to preserving and interpreting historical collections through contemporary theoretical lenses.