Poses, power, and perfection

THROUGH JAN. 25

WASHINGTON

"Richard Avedon: Portraits of Power": An obvious, if complicated, relationship exists between fashion photography and portraiture. Both involve pose, appearance, and an awareness of the spectator. Both also have attracted very talented practitioners. It makes perfect sense, then, that the two foremost photographers of fashion, Irving Penn and Richard Avedon, should also have been among the greatest of portrait photographers. (In Penn's case, it's "still is" rather than "have been": He remains active, at 91.) Penn was the subject of a portrait retrospective at New York's Morgan Library last winter. Now it's Avedon's turn, at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, in Washington. "Richard Avedon: Portraits of Power" consists of some 250 photographs taken over a half-century, from the 1950s until the artist's death, in 2004. Avedon's sitters include political figures, labor leaders, government officials, civil rights leaders, and average citizens involved in the political process. Portraying these men and women, Avedon brings to bear the same searching intelligence and flair for the unexpected he so famously employed on supermodels and movie stars. 500 17th Street NW, 202-639-1700, corcoran.org.

THROUGH DEC. 7

PHILADELPHIA

"R. Crumb's Underground": The University of Pennsylvania's Institute of Contemporary Art offers a career-spanning survey of the work of the most influential artist produced by the '60s counterculture. Cartoon characters like Fritz the Cat, Devil Girl, and Mr. Natural pushed the boundaries of both taste and creativity. More than 100 Crumb creations are featured. 118 South 36th St., 215-898-7108, icaphila.org.

THROUGH JAN. 4

ATLANTA

"Medieval and Renaissance Treasures": The High Museum of Art turns to London's Victoria & Albert Museum for this selection of European objects from the 4th to 17th centuries. A highlight is Leonardo da Vinci's "Codex Forster I" notebook. Other items include a a 10th-century German vessel for holy water and Donatello's bronze "Winged Putto With Fantastic Fish." 1280 Peachtree St. Northeast, 404-733-4400, high.org.

THROUGH JAN. 11

LONDON

"Cold War Modern: Design 1945-1970": The struggle between the Western democracies and Soviet bloc wasn't just for hearts and minds but also eyes and artistic sensibilities. The Victoria & Albert Museum (having freed up all that space, courtesy of the High), offers this sweeping look at how art, architecture, design, and film were affected by, and themselves affected, the rivalry between East and West in the quarter century after World War II. Cromwell Road, 011-44-20-7942-2000, www.vam.ac.uk.

THROUGH JAN. 18

AMSTERDAM

"Caspar David Friedrich and the German Romantic Landscape": Caspar David Friedrich was the most important German painter of the 19th century. This exhibition at the Hermitage Amsterdam is the first to bring to the West all the Friedrich holdings in St. Petersburg's Hermitage Museum. In addition, there are works by Friedrich's contemporaries, as well as by artists who influenced him and whom he in turn influenced. Nieuwe Herengracht 14, 011-31-20-530-87-55, www.hermitage.nl.

OCT. 15-JAN. 26

PARIS

"Futurism and Paris: An Explosive Avant-Garde": Futurism, an artistic movement heralding energy and speed, helped usher in the 20th century. Feb. 20, 1909, marks the 100th anniversary of Filippo Marinetti's celebrated "Futurist Manifesto." To observe the centenary, the Pompidou Center has gathered artworks and documents concerning this noisiest and highest-velocity of cultural isms. Place Georges Pompidou, 011-33-1-44-78-12-33, centrepompidou.fr.

PLAN AHEAD

NOV. 18-FEB. 16

NEW YORK

"Art and Love in Renaissance Italy": Valentine's Day comes early at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with a survey of amorous matters in the 15th and 16th centuries. On display will be paintings, jewelry, pottery, glassware, and drawings. 1000 Fifth Ave., 212-535-7710, metmuseum.org.

MARK FEENEY

Events are sometimes canceled, rescheduled, or sold out; call or check online to confirm. Mark Feeney can be reached at mfeeney@globe.com.