In art, a
pose which is
asymmetrical in that the figure is twisted around its
vertical axis. The
hips and legs,
shoulders, and head are in somewhat different
planes. It is also called "weight shift". It gives a
naturalistic look to a human pose, and famous examples are the
Venus de Milo and
Michelangelo's David. It is seen in painting as well as
sculpture.
It is strikingly absent from archaic sculpture, such as Egyptian and Cycladic. Its discovery is one of the many excellences that mark out classic Greek art.
The Italian for 'opposed', 'compared', or more literally "counterposed": past participle of the verb contrapporre. The spelling with one P is seen, but not correct.