Did you know that when the Eiffel Tower was first built, it was red? That’s the version of the Eiffel Tower people were sending each other on postcards in the late 19th century, almost 120 years ago. At that time, techniques had been developed to create the first color photographs, although they were a bit different from what we now know as color photography.
The Eiffel Tower Was Once Red. You Can See This on French Postcards from 120 Years Ago
Pictured: The base of the Eiffel Tower and the view towards Trocadero
How Is It Possible That These Postcards Are in Color?
They were created using the photochrome technique, which was popular before the advent of true color photography. These were actually black-and-white photos, "colored" by adding extra printing in a selected color palette. The dyes were applied to lithographic stones, from which the prints were made, resulting in something that resembled a painting. It was a very time-consuming and labor-intensive process.
Pictured: The promenade and Grand Salon in Trouville
Each lithographic stone was coated with a special light-sensitive emulsion, then exposed to sunlight through a photo negative for several hours. During this time, the emulsion hardened, replicating the image from the photo. Then, more stones were covered with dyes in different shades - making a single color photochrome sometimes required up to 12 lithographic stones.
This method was invented by Swiss Hans Jakob Schmid in 1880, but after World War I, it became too labor-intensive and unprofitable compared to the first true color photos.
Pictured: The therapeutic spring in Vichy
Today, it’s easier to reach the Arc de Triomphe in Paris by car than by carriage. Its construction began in 1806 and was completed 30 years later. It was built to honor those who fought for France during the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. The names of seven Polish officers and the names of Polish cities (Gdańsk, Ostrołęka, Pułtusk, Wrocław, and Heilsberg, now Lidzbark Warmiński) are inscribed on its walls, marking the places where Napoleon's army won battles.
Pictured: Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The construction of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris began in 1163 and took the next 180 years to complete. The building stands on the Île de la Cité in the Seine River.
Pictured: The charming town of Dinan in northern France; This view shows the town of Dinan in northern France, whose roots date back to the Middle Ages. One of the most distinctive attractions, still admired today, is this viaduct over the Rance River.
Pictured: The Rue de la République in Lyon. Take note of the large department store visible on the left side of the photochrome. It was called "Aux Deux Passages," and as the signs on the building indicate, it offered a wide selection of women’s clothing.
Pictured: Mont Saint-Michel; This is Mont Saint-Michel, an island located in the Bay of Saint-Michel in Normandy. It is connected to the mainland by an 1800-meter-long causeway. The Benedictine sanctuary of Saint Michael the Archangel was built on it.
Pictured: The city of Rouen; In this postcard, you can see the Notre Dame de Bon Secours Cathedral and the Joan of Arc monument.
Pictured: Saint-Malo in Brittany; This time we find ourselves in Brittany, at the walled town of Saint-Malo and its entrance to the port. Sharp eyes might notice a few gentlemen sitting on a chain—perhaps waiting for the ferry. A little further away, a group of women is sheltering from the sun under parasols.
Pictured: The town of Thiers; The town of Thiers was very popular among tourists. Not only is it near the beautiful Alps, but it also boasts charming medieval architecture. On top of that, it is also the world capital of cutlery production, with around 100 companies making knives, forks, and spoons there. Visitors interested in this topic can visit the local museum dedicated to the industry.
Pictured: The Grand Trianon Palace; The Grand Trianon Palace is part of the Palace of Versailles complex. Queen Maria Leszczyńska resided there during the summer months. When her father, former King of Poland Stanisław Leszczyński, came to visit her, he also stayed there.
Pictured: The room of Napoleon's beloved wife, Josephine, at the Grand Trianon Palace
Pictured: Place du Capitole in Toulouse; This is Place du Capitole in Toulouse, one of the main city squares, still popular with tourists today. This photochrome captured a view of the Grand Hotel back when horse-drawn trams were a common means of transport.
Pictured: Le Tréport; Le Tréport is a small port town known not only for its beautiful beaches and casino. It is here that the Bresle River flows into the famous English Channel, which the English call the English Channel.
Pictured: The charming beach in Trouville; As you can see, beachgoers strolled along the shore dressed from head to toe, with parasols in hand.
Pictured: The tents on the beach in Trouville; Tents were set up along the beach in Trouville. Just looking at those long dresses and full suits makes one feel hot.
Pictured: The Latona Basin in Versailles; Beyond the Latona Basin in Versailles, you can see a panoramic view of the gardens.
Pictured: The Hall of Mirrors in Versailles; This photochrome shows the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles, built at the request of the Sun King, Louis XIV. It stretches 74 meters, is 10 meters wide, and is adorned with 357 mirrors.
Pictured: Dunkirk; This is how Dunkirk, the northernmost city in France, looked at the end of the 19th century.
Pictured: The Marseille cable car; The Marseille cable car looks impressive!
And here’s the red Eiffel Tower in all its glory!
