contrapposto

A way of representing the human body so that the weight appears to be supported on one leg. Contrapposto was discovered by ancient Greek sculptors and rediscovered by Renaissance artists in Europe. Pronunciation here. Video here.

Riace young frontStatue A from Riace, Italy.  Cast bronze. Ca. 460-450 BCE.  Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia, Reggio Calabria, Italy.