Faces of rock to a Van Gogh show

NEW YORK

“Who Shot Rock & Roll: A Photographic History, 1955 to the Present’’: Image has been as much a part of rock ’n’ roll as sound right from the beginning. If Elvis hadn’t looked like Elvis he wouldn’t have been, well . . . Elvis, would he? Or imagine the Beatles with crewcuts, Bob Dylan with a double chin. Not easy to do. This Brooklyn Museum exhibition gathers images of rock performers from the ’50s to the present. Included are such highly photogenic subjects as Tina Turner, Mick Jagger, and Little Richard, and such less photogenic ones as Radiohead, Sonic Youth, and Amy Winehouse. The exhibition emphasizes the photographers (among them are Henry Diltz, Baron Wolman, and Albert Watson) as much as the performers. There’s also a section dealing with an overlooked element in the visual impact of rock: the fans out in the audience and their responses to music. 200 Eastern Parkway, 718-638-5000, www.brooklynmuseum.org

THROUGH JAN. 3

WASHINGTON

“Sargent and the Sea’’: John Singer Sargent, a great portraitist and painter of society, is rarely thought of in terms of the outdoors. This Corcoran Gallery of Art exhibition brings together more than 80 paintings, watercolors, and drawings that show how very much at home Sargent could be artistically with landscape and seascape. 500 17th St. NW, 202-639-1700, www.corcoran.org

NOV. 5-JAN. 24

LONDON

“The Habit of Art’’: Britain’s National Theatre mounts the world premiere production of Alan Bennett’s latest play at its Lyttelton Theatre. Toward the end of their lives, Bennett imagines the composer Benjamin Britten seeking out his old friend and onetime collaborator, the poet W.H. Auden, to discuss Britten’s latest opera, “Death in Venice.’’ A wide-ranging discussion ensues on life, art, and much else. Tony Award winner Richard Griffiths plays Auden. South Bank, 011-44-20-7452-3000, www.nationaltheatre.org.uk

THROUGH MARCH 28

PARIS

“The Magic Lantern and Painted Film’’: The invention of motion pictures at the end of the 19th century involved two elements. One of them, motion, was completely new to the screen. The other, pictures, was not. The projection of painted images by magic lantern, a process that had been done for centuries, was a forerunner of the movies. This exhibition mounted by the Cinémathèque Française looks at projection devices and images that date as far as 1659. 51 rue de Bercy, 011-33-1-71-19-33-33, www.cinematheque.fr

DEC. 3-6

MIAMI BEACH

Art Basel Miami: The most important US art show, Art Basel Miami is held annually at the Miami Beach Convention Center. It brings together artwork from more than 2,000 artists represented by some 250 galleries. In addition to the art exhibition, there are special cultural events featuring music, film, architecture, and design. 1901 Convention Center Drive, 305-674-1292, www.artbaselmiamibeach.com

DEC. 19-JAN. 16, 2011

SAN FRANCISCO

“The Anniversary Show’’: The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art kicks off a six-month celebration of its 75th anniversary with this exhibition of some 400 works from its permanent collection. They range from paintings and sculptures to architectural models and archival material. The show marks the first complete reinstallation of SFMoMA’s second-floor galleries since the museum moved into its present quarters in 1995. 151 Third St., 415-357-4000, www.sfmoma.org

PLAN AHEAD

JAN. 23-APRIL 18

“The Real Van Gogh: The Artist and His Letters’’: The first major Van Gogh exhibition in London in four decades, this Royal Academy of Arts show brings together 65 of the artist’s paintings, 30 drawings, and 35 letters. Because of their delicate state, the letters have rarely been shown in public. Burlington House, Piccadilly, 011-44-20-7300-8000, www.royalacademy.org.uk

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