The experience of having a cataract removed has started running some interesting lines of thought.
A friend who has had this operation a little while back commented, when visiting the house, how she is now able to see the colours in our carpet more vividly than before. Sitting in the same place this morning, enjoying a cup of coffee, suddenly I noticed the same thing. This was quite unexpected, because the only result I had anticipated from the cataract removal was that objects might be perceived with greater clarity.
Earlier this afternoon I decided that I would hang a different picture in one of the rooms, and to my surprise it struck me that the sense of three-dimensionality I had been striving for in that piece is actually more pronounced than I had expected. Surprised by this experience, I then went into the studio and checked my perception on other pieces of work hanging on the walls there. I was startled to discover that I had the same experience. Not only are colours more intense, but also the perception of pictorial depth is enhanced.
Even ‘though I have only had one eye treated to date, I am wondering whether my encounter with paintings will be quite different in future, when the course of treatment is completed. It’s quite an exciting idea. Perhaps I’ll discover that I’m a better painter than I had previously thought!
Dear John, I am glad to hear the operation went so well. How interesting to be able to see the world anew, having not been aware of what you were missing!