Monet, Claude

written in blue ink in a somewhat imperfect hand, thanking Barbier for sending a pair of spectacles, though the results are disappointing, as he sees too many distant details, as if viewing through opera glasses, whereas the glasses that Dr Mawas had given him are perfect, now that the lenses have been tinted; Monet reports his ongoing work [on his series of Water-lilies] with difficulty and in spite of the terrible weather ("...J'ai reçu les lunettes malgré resultat defectueux (bien qu'il faut s'habituer de nouveaux verres) mais j'y vois trop de details lointains, cela m'a fait l'effet de jumelles de théâtre. Par contre, les lunettes de Mawas [sont] parfaites depuis qu'elles sont teintées ... Je continue à travailler avec bien du mal et avec un temps desespérant"),

2 pages, 8vo (20.5 x 13.3cm), printed stationery, Giverny, 5 August 1924, envelope ("Monsieur Barbier") 

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This is an important and poignant letter by Monet about his impaired vision as a result of his operations in 1923. Monet had been diagnosed with cataracts in 1912, culminating in surgery to remove them in 1923, but only on his right eye. He refused to have his left eye operated on and thereafter could not coordinate his binocular vision. Moreover, his perception of colour was severely affected, the results of which are often observed in the celebrated series of large paintings of water-lilies that had been commissioned by Georges Clemenceau. Monet's retina was now so highly sensitive to the blue/green end of the spectrum, that these colours now overwhelmed all others, and he could no longer see red or yellow. Eventually Dr Jacques Mawas remedied the problem by giving Monet tinted glasses, so much so that the great artist took up his work on his famous series of water-lilies once again.  However his perception of colour was still affected and he could not use binocular vision (as with the opera glasses he mentions).