Paris green may be prepared by combining copper(II) acetate and arsenic trioxide.

[citation needed] In paintings, the pigment produces a rich, dark green with an undertone of blue.

In a 1888 study, watercolors with the pigment were shown to darken and turn brown when exposed to natural light and air.

[11]: 228 Paris green in Descente des Vaches by Théodore Rousseau has changed significantly.

[12] Similar natural compounds are the minerals chalcophyllite Cu18Al2(AsO4)3(SO4)3(OH)27·36H2O, conichalcite CaCu(AsO4)(OH), cornubite Cu5(AsO4)2(OH)4·H2O, cornwallite Cu5(AsO4)2(OH)4·H2O, and liroconite Cu2Al(AsO4)(OH)4·4H2O.

It is present in several paintings by Claude Monet and Paul Gauguin, who found its color difficult to replicate with natural materials.

[11]: 256 [14] In 1867, farmers in Illinois and Indiana found that Paris green was effective against the Colorado potato beetle, an aggressive agricultural pest.

Despite concerns regarding the safety of using arsenic compounds on food crops, Paris green became the preferred method for controlling the beetle.

[21] Throughout the 19th century, Paris green and similar arsenic pigments were used in books, particularly on bookcloth coverings, textblock edges, decorative labels and onlays, and in printed or manual illustrations.

Since February 2024, several German libraries have started to block public access to their stock of 19th century books, to check for the degree of poisoning.