Claude Monet had ultraviolet vision

According to Carl Zimmer, a famous writer specializing in scientific subjects, the painter Claude Monet had ultraviolet vision. In an article published by Dowload the Universe, Zimmer reports that Monet has developed senile cataracts over the years, often complaining that he cannot see clearly.

This vision problem is quite common in the elderly, causing a progressive blurring that can lead to blindness. In Monet's case, as the disease progressed, part of the visible color spectrum was eventually blocked, causing him to see the colors rather dimly. This caused the artist to have trouble painting, and Monet complained that he had a sense of seeing the world through a mist.

UV lenses

After many frustrating treatments, the painter agreed to undergo cataract removal surgery at age 82, which completely eliminated the lens from the artist's left eye. This structure acts as a lens that helps us better focus on objects and serves as a natural filter against UV rays.

After the surgery, Monet repainted and recognized the colors again, but suffered from a condition known as aphakia, which makes people without crystalline eyes temporarily blue.

Thus, in addition to the colors of the normal spectrum, Monet also began to perceive new colors. He began to see and paint in ultraviolet. One of his favorite motifs was flowers, which is why his famous painting "Les nymphéas" shows beautiful aquatic lilies with a bluish hue, while in fact they are white in color.