The former Department of Art History in Graz looks back on a long history. The roots of today's department go back to the end of the 19th century. Since the years 1891/92 there was a chair for art history and art archaeology in Graz, at that time still located in the old university in Bürgergasse 2. Under the first full professor, Josef Strzygowski, the move to the second floor of the new main building took place in 1895, where the department is still located today. Hermann Egger and Wilhelm Suida followed as professors. The former created two sections within the Department, namely the Urban Roman Section and the Topographical Section for Styria and Carinthia, which published the "Contributions to the Art History of Styria and Carinthia" and the "Art Monuments of Styria". Egger's chair (until 1946) was taken over by Wladimir Sas-Zaloziecky in 1949, who was followed by Heinrich Gerhard Franz (1962 - 1986) after a longer vacancy. Franz distinguished himself, among other things, as a connoisseur of South German and Bohemian Baroque architecture and non-European art. Franz was followed in 1987 by Götz Pochat, whose work included the history of aesthetics, art theory, and the use of the concept of symbol in art. From 1989 to 2013, Johann Konrad Eberlein held the second professorship alongside Pochat. His research interests included medieval and modern art, art theory, and methodology. In 2013, Sabine Flach was recruited as a renowned professor of modern and contemporary art.

Society of Friends of the Department of Art History

The "Society of Friends of the Art History Department of the University of Graz" was founded in 1962 by Prof. Franz in connection with the "Art History Society" founded by Strzygowski in 1896. The new society pursues the following goals: the promotion of the Art History Department and the deepening and dissemination of the understanding of fine arts and art history in close cooperation with the Art History Department. These tasks are to be achieved through publications, lectures, excursions and appropriate working groups.

Source: 100 years of art history at the University of Graz. With an outlook on the history of the subject at the German-speaking Austrian universities up to the year 1938. Edited by Walter Höflechner and Götz Pochat. Graz 1992 (= Publications from the Archives of the University of Graz, Vol. 26).