Definition
A sculptural pose where the human figure stands with weight shifted to one leg, creating an S-curve through the body with opposing angles in the hips and shoulders. This technique creates a sense of dynamic movement and naturalistic balance.
Etymology
From Italian 'contrapposto' meaning 'set against' or 'counterposed,' from Latin 'contra' (against) and 'positus' (placed). The term describes how different parts of the body are positioned in opposition to create natural, relaxed poses rather than rigid symmetry.
Kelly Says
Contrapposto revolutionized art history when Greek sculptor Polykleitos perfected it in the 5th century BCE! His 'Doryphoros' (Spear Bearer) became the gold standard for depicting the human body, and this pose became so influential that virtually every nude sculpture from Michelangelo's David to modern art still uses this ancient Greek innovation.
Translations
ARالعربية
مواجهة
muwāǧaha
BNবাংলা
বিপরীত মুদ্রা
biporīt mudrā
CSČeština
kontrapost
kɔn.tʁa.post
DADansk
kontrapost
kʰɔnˈtʁɑˀpɔst
DEDeutsch
Kontrapost
kɔn.tʁaˈpoːst
ELΕλληνικά
αντιπαράθεση
an.ti.pa.ˈra.θe.si
ESEspañol
contrapposto
kon.tɾa.pɔsˈto
FISuomi
kontrapost
kontrapost
FRFrançais
contrapposto
kɔ̃.tʁa.pɔsto
HIहिन्दी
विरोधी मुद्रा
virodhī mudrā
HUMagyar
kontrapost
kɔn.tʁa.post
IDBahasa Indonesia
kontrapostur
kɔn.tʁa.pɔs.tʊr
ITItaliano
contrapposto
kon.trapˈpo.sto
MSBahasa Melayu
kontrapostur
kɔn.tʁa.pɔs.tʊr
NLNederlands
contrapost
kɔn.trɑˈpɔst
NONorsk
kontrapost
kɔn.tʁaˈpɔst
PLPolski
kontrapost
kɔn.tʁaˈpost
PTPortuguês
contraposto
kõ.tɾaˈpoʃ.tu
RORomână
contrapost
kon.traˈpost
RUРусский
контрапост
kɐn.tɾaˈpost
SVSvenska
kontrapost
kɔn.tʁaˈpost
TAதமிழ்
எதிர்மறை
etirmarai
TEతెలుగు
వ్యతిరేక ముద్ర
vyatireka mudra
THไทย
ท่าทางตรงกันข้าม
tʰaː tʰaŋ trɔŋ kan kʰaːm
TLTL
salungatan
sɐˈluŋɐtan
TRTürkçe
karşıtlık
kɑrʃɯtlɯk
UKУкраїнська
контрапост
kɔn.tʁaˈpost
VITiếng Việt
đối lập
ʔɗɔ̤ˀj lap˧˧