We will explore the art and science of colour vision across the life span. We shall do so in the form of a biography; the biography of the eye of Claude Monet and that of his fellow Impressionists. Neural pathways subserving colour vision change continuously throughout life. Concurrently, the lens loses its transparency; it becomes brown, thereby decreasing portions of the short-wave spectrum reaching the retina. It is often thought that colour perception will be altered owing to brunescence of the aging lens. This expectation is reasonable, but is that what actually happens? The answer may surprise you.