S-curve (art)

An S-curve meanders into the distance in this photograph of a dirt path in the Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve.

In the visual arts, an S-curve is an "S"-shaped curve which serves a wide variety of compositional purposes. It can help guide the viewer's eye through the image to the main subject at the end of the curve, but can also serve as a subject in and of itself. It has been variously described as dynamic, feminine, restful, and hypnotic. The S-curve is particularly prominent in a vertical composition, where it may be stacked to form a double S-curve for maximum effect.

In sculpture

In Ancient Greek and Roman sculpture, the S-curve is a traditional art concept where the figure's body and posture is depicted like a sinuous or serpentine manner. It is related to and is an extension of the art term of contrapposto which is when a figure is depicted slouching or placing one's weight and thus center of gravity to one side. However, the S Curve involves more of the body than the contrapposto, and is therefore considered to be a more advanced technical development. The "S Curve" concept was probably invented by the famous Greek sculptor Praxiteles, son of Kifissodotos, who lived in the 4th century BC.

The Indian tribhanga ("three bend") pose is similar, but generally more pronounced, often with the neck also curved to one side. This goes back to at least 100 BC.

The figura serpentinata is a variant or development of the pose. The term is usually applied only to art5 from the Renaissance onwards.

• Examples
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  The Venus de Milo depicts a S Curve body shape
• 
  Note that there is only a slight weight shift in the Kritios Boy; thus, it is a contrapposto.
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  Indian tribhanga ("three bend") pose; bronze Krishna playing flute, Odisha, c. 1800