Katsel

Katsel is a Finnish noun that denotes the act of looking, watching, or observing. It is derived from the verb katsoa, meaning to look. In everyday language, the more common noun for viewing is katselu, but katsel is used in more formal or specialized contexts to refer specifically to the act of looking.

In aesthetics, art theory and visual culture, katsel is used to discuss the role of the viewer and the act of looking as a part of meaning-making. Discussions of katsel often intersect with concepts such as the gaze (katse) and the viewer (katselija). The way a person looks at a work of art, a photograph, or a film can influence interpretation and perceived significance, making katsel a relevant term in reception studies and phenomenology of perception.

Usage and nuance differ from katselu. While katselu commonly denotes viewing in general terms—such as watching television or viewing content on a screen—katsel tends to appear in more academic or descriptive phrases about the act of looking itself, rather than the broader practice of viewing. Both forms are related and share roots in the same verb, but their contexts and registers tend to differ.

Related terms include katse (gaze), katselija (viewer), and katselukokemus (viewer experience). Together they describe the dynamic between what is seen and how it is perceived by the observer.