Color as Architecture

The tower's color has evolved but always served architectural purposes. Eiffel originally chose "Venetian red" for the base, gradually lightening toward yellow-ochre at the summit. This gradient enhanced the sense of height and helped the tower merge with the sky.

Today's three-tone paint scheme—darkest at the base, lightest at top—maintains this principle while ensuring uniform appearance from ground level. The color, officially "Eiffel Tower Brown," was specially developed to complement Parisian light in all seasons.

Every seven years, 60 tons of paint are applied by 25 painters using methods unchanged since 1889. The lead-based paint has been replaced with environmentally safe alternatives, but the application remains artisanal. Each painter develops a relationship with their section, knowing every rivet and joint intimately.