sguardo

Sguardo is an Italian noun meaning the act of looking, a glance, or a gaze. It can refer to the physical act of turning one’s eyes toward something as well as to the expression or mood conveyed by the eyes. The term often carries nuance about duration, intensity, or emotional quality, as in uno sguardo rapido, uno sguardo penetrante, or un sguardo affettuoso.

Origin and form: Sguardo is derived from the verb guardare (to look). The noun is masculine, with the standard forms lo sguardo in singular and gli sguardi in plural.

Usage: Sguardo is widely used in everyday Italian, literature, journalism, and criticism. It describes the tone of a look when paired with adjectives such as affettuoso, severo, penetrante, or curioso. Phrases like prendere qualcuno con lo sguardo and guardare qualcuno con uno sguardo accusatorio illustrate its versatility in conveying attitude and intention.

Cultural and theoretical usage: In art, cinema, and literary criticism, lo sguardo is employed to discuss gaze dynamics—the way observers look at subjects, and how subjects are perceived by others. This concept intersects with broader theories of representation, perception, and viewer interaction, where the gaze can reflect power relations, intimacy, or curiosity.

See also: The term is related to the general concept of gaze in visual culture and to the verb guardare from which it is derived. In Italian, lo sguardo remains the standard everyday word for a look or gaze.