Claude MONET is sorry to lose his sight of colors.

Claude Monet (1840.1926)

Autograph letter signed to a friend.  

Four pages in-8° in grease pencil, on Giverny letterhead by Vernon.

Giverny. September 21, 1923.

« I only see transformed colors. »

Moving end-of-life letter from the Master of Impressionism, difficult to write, lamenting his deteriorating eyesight, following the operation on his eye undergone in 1923.

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“Dear friend, this is a favor that I ask of you. As you probably know, I had cataract surgery. 3 operations, to be able to see, but in white, that is to say read and write. Pretty much as you see. It's a result, but it's not enough for a painter. I only see transformed colors , at best nothing but yellow and white. It's atrocious and disgusting to watch. In short, I am looking for a painter who has had cataract surgery in order to find out from him if he has really regained his sight of colors. They want to operate on my other eye. I only want to do it if I find certain proof of a result from a colleague, because oculists rely on professional secrecy, which is rather worrying. You see, dear friend, the service you would render me if among the painters you found one who could reassure me. Thank you in advance and all my best regards. Claude Monet. »

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The first signs of visual deterioration in Monet appeared around 1910. Embarrassed in his work and worried, Monet, after consulting numerous specialists, did not want to have an operation, remembering the blindness of Mary Cassatt and that of Honoré Daumier occurred after the same intervention.

For nearly ten years, Monet continued his work despite the inexorable deterioration of his eyesight. In 1922, a sudden drop in visual acuity in his left eye forced him to have an operation; he could no longer paint. Encouraged by Georges Clemenceau, Monet had an operation (on his right eye) in January 1923 by Doctor Charles Coutela at the Neuilly-sur-Seine clinic.

The aftermath of the intervention was painful for the artist, his vision of colors was disturbed. Tinted corrective lenses, prescribed by doctor Jacques Mawas, were therefore necessary for the artist to correct his perception of colors and once again understand the extent of his palette.

Monet ultimately gave up surgery on his second eye.