contrapposto

[ kohn-truh-pos-toh ]

noun,plural con·trap·pos·tos.Fine Arts.
  1. a representation of the human body in which the forms are organized on a varying or curving axis to provide an asymmetrical balance to the figure.

Origin of contrapposto

1
1900–05; <Italian <Latin contrāpositus, past participle of contrāpōnere to place against. See contra1, posit

Words Nearby contrapposto

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British Dictionary definitions for contrapposto

contrapposto

/ (ˌkɒntrəˈpɒstəʊ) /


nounplural -tos
  1. (in the visual arts) a curving or asymmetrical arrangement of the human figure with the shoulders, hips, and legs in different planes

Origin of contrapposto

1
C20: from Italian, from the past participle of contrapporre, from Latin contra contra- + pōnere to place

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