1. A technique in art in which the human figure is depicted with the weight shifted to one leg, creating a relaxed, natural pose with opposing curves in the body.
Usage: art history term; plural of contrapposto; commonly used in Renaissance and classical art

Examples

• The sculptor used contrapposti to give the marble statue a more lifelike and graceful appearance.
• Renaissance artists like Michelangelo mastered the use of contrapposti in their human figures.
• The contrapposti pose allows one leg to bear weight while the other remains relaxed.
• In contrapposti, the shoulders often tilt opposite to the hips, creating visual balance.
• The painting demonstrates classical contrapposti with the figure's weight shifted elegantly to one side.