Definitions

1. noun

A posture in which the weight-bearing leg is relaxed and the free leg is tense, used particularly in classical sculpture to convey a sense of movement or life.

“The museum displayed a collection of famous sculptures that utilized the contrapposto stance to emphasize the naturalistic poses of the subjects.”

2. adjective

Used to describe a pose or stance in art, particularly sculpture, in which the weight-bearing leg is relaxed and the free leg is tense.

“The artist’s use of contrapposto in the statue added a sense of dynamism to the otherwise static figure.”