In this activity, you will:

• Examine and describe two ancient works of art.
• Understand contrapposto and analyze its importance.

• Under 30 mins

Stand Like a Statue

• Stand up from where you are. Don’t think about it; just do what feels natural.
• Freeze and look down: is your weight evenly distributed between your feet? Or are you standing on one foot more than the other?
• Check your hips—is one side higher or are they tilted at all?
• Check your shoulders—are they perfectly level, or is one shoulder higher than the other?

Write notes about your pose, including details about how your weight was distributed, and whether or not your hips and shoulders were straight or tilted.

Strike a Pose

Stand in poses that mimic each of these two statues. Hold each pose for at least 30 seconds.

Discuss the following questions:

• How did it feel to stand in each of these poses? Name 3 words to describe each pose.
• What’s the most noticeable difference between how each pose felt in your body?
• In each pose, where was the weight of your body resting? How could you tell?
• Which pose felt most natural or relaxed? Why?

Learn About Contrapposto

Read the definition of contrapposto (which means “opposite” in Italian):

Pose of a standing figure with most of the weight resting on one leg and the other bent. This causes hips, shoulders, and head to tilt in order to balance the body.

Then, discuss the following questions:

• Which of these sculptures uses a contrapposto pose?
• What words would you use to describe a contrapposto pose?
• Think about when you first stood up at the beginning of this activity. Were you in a contrapposto pose?
• How do the different poses change your understanding of the person depicted?

Analyze the Impact of Pose

• Thinking about the Statue of Hercules—how does his pose support the idea of being a triumphant hero?
• Comparing the two statues, which pose do you find more powerful?
• Where do you see contrapposto in modern life—photos, movies, ads? What does that stance signal today?

Pose of a standing figure with most of the weight resting on one leg and the other bent. This causes hips, shoulders, and head to tilt in order to balance the body.