Claude Monet: The Painter Who Battled Cataracts and Won Back His Colors

Tetsuya Tanimoto, MD.

Chairman of Accessible Railway Medical Services Tetsuikai Medical Corporation.

Director of Navitas Clinic Kawasaki

Monet: A Name You Know, Even If You Don’t Know Why

Oscar-Claude Monet (1840–1926) is one of those names you’ve probably heard, even if your knowledge of art is limited to doodles in the margins of a notebook. Maybe you remember him as the guy who painted all those water lilies. Maybe you think of Impressionism, even if you’re not entirely sure what that means (spoiler: it’s not just a blurry picture). But did you know that Monet wasn’t just a genius with a brush? He was also a fighter—battling cataracts in his later years with the kind of determination that would make Beethoven proud.Fast forward to 2024, and Monet’s legacy is alive and well in Japan. At Tokyo's National Museum of Western Art in Ueno, the winter exhibition “Monet: The Time of Water Lilies” has been attracting art lovers and casual visitors alike. Meanwhile, in Tokorozawa, the Kadokawa Musashino Museum is hosting an immersive projection mapping exhibition, “Monet: I Can See the Lights.” Imagine stepping into a Monet painting, with colors and light swirling around you—it’s the kind of thing that would make even Monet’s blurry vision marvel. I attended both exhibitions, and let me tell you, I walked out feeling as if I had spent a weekend in Giverny with Monet himself.

Monet and Japan: A Love Affair Across the Ages

Monet’s connection to Japan wasn’t just limited to exhibitions a century after his death. He was a huge fan of Japanese art—so much so that his home in Giverny was practically a gallery of ukiyo-e prints by artists like Hokusai and Hiroshige. These prints, with their bold compositions and celebration of nature, influenced Monet’s own style. The Japanese bridge in his garden, which appears in many of his paintings, was a nod to this passion. If Instagram had existed in Monet’s time, you can bet his #Japonisme posts would’ve been trending.

Cataracts: When Monet’s World Turned Yellow

But back to Monet’s fight against cataracts. At 72, Monet was diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes. If you’re wondering what cataracts are, think of looking through a dirty window—only the window is your eyeball. For Monet, this wasn’t just annoying; it was devastating. His art depended on his ability to see colors, light, and detail. Imagine painting the shimmering blues of water lilies only to have everything turn a murky yellow. That’s what Monet faced.A comparison of his works before and after the onset of cataracts tells the story. Take his series “Water Lily Pond: Japanese Bridge.” At 59, Monet’s bridge is a masterpiece of green and blue, full of clarity and life. By his late 70s, the bridge is a hazy blur, painted in yellows, oranges, and browns. Was Monet experimenting with abstraction? Hardly. He was painting what he saw—or rather, what his cataracts allowed him to see.

“Surgery? No, Thanks,” Said Monet (For a While)

Despite the challenges, Monet was initially stubborn about undergoing surgery. Let’s be honest, though—wouldn’t you be? Surgery in the early 20th century was no walk in the park. Forget today’s outpatient procedures; back then, cataract surgery involved removing the lens entirely, leaving patients to rely on thick, Coke-bottle glasses. Monet wasn’t thrilled about the idea, and for years he avoided it.By the time he was 82, Monet’s right eye was almost completely blind, and his left eye wasn’t much better. Yet, he soldiered on. “Like Beethoven, who composed music when deaf, I paint while unable to see,” he said. His determination was admirable, if a bit tragic. You can almost imagine him squinting at a canvas, muttering, “Is this blue? No? Well, close enough.”

A Little Help From Clemenceau and Dr. Coutela

Finally, in 1922, Monet’s good friend, French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau, convinced him to give surgery a shot. Enter Dr. Charles Coutela, a skilled ophthalmologist of the time. The procedure on Monet’s right eye was a success, but it wasn’t an instant fix. Monet found himself navigating a strange new world of color. “With my cataract eye, everything looks yellow; with my operated eye, everything appears bluish,” he said. (Side note: Can you imagine Monet explaining this to his doctor? “Doc, my world’s like a bad Instagram filter!”)This newfound duality of vision inspired works like “The House Seen from the Rose Garden” (1923), now housed in the Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris. If you look closely, you can almost see Monet grappling with his two realities—one eye seeing the past, the other seeing a brighter, bluer future.

Modern Cataract Surgery: A Visionary Leap

Monet’s surgery was groundbreaking for its time, but let’s just say we’ve come a long way since then. Today, cataract surgery is quick, safe, and incredibly effective. Modern techniques like phacoemulsification use ultrasound to break up the cloudy lens, which is then replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). These lenses aren’t just functional; they’re customizable. Want to correct your vision while you’re at it? No problem. It’s no wonder cataract surgery is now one of the most common medical procedures worldwide.In Japan, where Monet’s art has a devoted following, cataract surgery is practically routine. Patients can choose from a variety of IOLs, tailored to their specific needs. It’s a far cry from the risky procedures of Monet’s day, proving that even the world of medicine isn’t immune to a little innovation.

Why Monet’s Story Still Matters

Monet’s journey is more than just a tale of an artist battling cataracts; it’s a story about resilience, adaptability, and the power of art to transcend physical limitations. Despite his impaired vision, Monet never stopped painting. Instead, he adapted, creating works that reflect not just the world around him but also his own inner struggle.And now, in 2024, his story continues to inspire. Whether through the traditional exhibition in Ueno or the immersive projection mapping in Tokorozawa, Monet’s legacy proves that art has no boundaries—not even blurry vision. So the next time you look at one of his paintings, remember: behind every brushstroke is a man who refused to let cataracts dim his view of the world.

Seeing Monet Through New Eyes

Claude Monet wasn’t just an Impressionist; he was a visionary in every sense of the word. His struggle with cataracts, his eventual surgery, and his triumphant return to vibrant color remind us that creativity often thrives in the face of adversity. Today, we can appreciate his works not just for their beauty but also for the incredible story they tell. Monet once said, “I am following Nature without being able to grasp her... I am passionately following her.” It seems fitting, then, that even when his vision faltered, his passion never wavered.