Claude Monet (November 14, 1840 – December 5, 1926)

Houses of Parliament, London, Sun Breaking Through the Fog

1904

Claude Monet, having just been provided glasses by an oculist and realizing their effect on his sight, threw them violently away, declaring, "If the world really looks like that I will paint no more!"

Monet is my favorite painter of the Impressionist movement. Yet, the little story above (which seems to be true, but certainly has an apocryphal flavor) raises the interesting question of whether novel art is still just as brilliant, if that novelty is created and maintained through a natural mishap, such as Monet's severe astigmatism. What do you think?