Standing Nude Male Figure (Michelangelo)

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This is one of a pair of standing nude male figures demonstrating the principles of Contrapposto, as Michelangelo and Phidias would have envisioned them around 1911. The sculptor Rodin modeled these clay sketches to showcase contrapposto - a fundamental pose that occurs when the body responds by shifting its weight onto a single leg. Each figure stands in a manner typical of Rodin's works after whom it is named, reflecting his distinctive style. The version inspired by ancient Phidias captures the serene physical ease characteristic of classical sculpture. In contrast, the Michelangelo figure slumps and twists inwardly, expressing psychological intensity resulting in a more contorted Renaissance contrapposto pose.