Contrapposto
Contrapposto is a term from Italian art that refers to a classical pose in a sculpture and a painting where the human figure is shown with a slight shift in the distribution of weight. That minute asymmetry is essential for rendering a naturalistic stance and makes a body seem dynamic, almost alive, from the viewpoint of movement. It began as a feature of ancient Greek art, and refined is during the Renaissance in the works of Donatello, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci.
Contrapposto is the term that defines postural achievement presented with extraordinary artistic creativity. At the time of the Renaissance, it became a mystery of supreme artistic perfection that showed a contrived knowledge of anatomy that captures the human figure is in motion. Emotion and life were painted onto the works of a sculptor and a painter, modifying drastically the history of the human shape in art. An imaginary line joining the two shoulders, in most cases, and the two hips set at an angle to this line e xplains how the dimensions balance naturally engulfed in aesthetic virtue.
An excellent example of contrapposto is in Michelangelo's "David," where the figure’s stance demonstrates a feeling of both bodily and mental stress, illustrating the artist’s ability to express human emotions through form. Da Vinci’s "Vitruvian Man" displays principles of contrapposto as well, with the subtle turn of the figure portraying the relationship between the human body and the cosmos. Through mastering contrapposto, artists heightened the level of expressiveness and beauty in their works, which became the new standard for figurative art that still impacts artists today.
Other Glossary Terms
made for you
Join the movement
To make people not just see art, live it and buy it

Newsletter
Sign up for our newsletter to explore artist stories, stay updated on events, and discover exciting new artworks in our community.
2024 Subjektiv Inc.