Contrapposto

Contrapposto is a sculptural technique in which the artists illustrates the natural counterbalance of the body through the bending of the hips and legs. It shows the artist's better understanding of the human anatomy. Before its discovery, statues were carved in a very rigid and formal manner, much like the ancient Egyptians pharoah portraits. It is first exhibited in the ancient Greek Kritios Boy, and can also be seen in Michelangelo's David.

The term should not be confused with the very similar musical term contrapunto.