Contrapposto stance is only part of the story
November 12, 2009
Less than 60 years separates the 2 greek figures but there has been a revolution in thinking. In the Kouros figure the artist has insized or ‘drawn’ the anatomical features onto the form, where Kritos boy is volumetric; his chest inflated with air. In the 2nd image the drawing illustrates the upwards thrust of the ribcage and the downward tilt of the pelvis due to the spinal curves. Where the Kouros figure is quite flat, the Kritos figure articulates through the vertical plane.
Strangely, the step from drawing as insizing to drawing as expressing volume is a threshold area in a draughtsman’s development.
The above drawing on the right is a demonstration by Deane G. Keller
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November 14, 2009 at 2:36 pm
That is really fascinating! Not being educated in drawing at all I had not ever conceived of it as expressing volume but now that you have said it I see the image you presented very differently. I would imagine making this shift in the actual act of drawing would be a difficult on indeed.
Thanks!