The classical posing technique is still used today to produce beautiful, lifelikeness in the human figure. After the Greek period, many amazing artworks did not embrace contrapposto but centuries later, the Italian Renaissance would rediscover and rename contrapposto.
The contrapposto definition is a relaxed and life-like standing pose where the body’s weight is rested on one leg. The figure does not stand stiff and upright but distributes the weight of the body at ease.
Donatello’s David (c. 1440) was the earliest free-standing male nude since ancient times. For the thousand years in between, figures had either been sculpted in relief or clothed.