Painter's blindnesses

The purpose of this study was the inventory of historical painters who were blind, and the analysis of their attitude in the face of the blindness. Methods:The population study was extracted from the dictionary of painters by Benezit. The method of the study was ophthalmological, to assess precise ly the type and the etiology of the blindness; and psychological and artist ic to study the reactions of the painters. Results: Blindness was found among 85 painters. They were 5 cases of transi tory blindness; 20 cases of unilateral blindness; and 60 cases of bilateral definitive blindness. The psychological attitudes of the painters were eit her negative, with depression, and even suicide (5 cases); or positive, wit h perseverance to paint till to blindness, teaching of the painting after b lindness. Conclusions:The small number of painters with a blindness caused by a preci se etiology was disappointing, but the variety of the reactions gave a good account of the attitude of the painters who became blind.