Louvre Art Gallery Book Burning Painting Editorial Image

Book burning, literally tomecide, is the ritual destruction by fire of books or other written materials, usually carried out in a public context. The burning of books represents an element of censorship and usually proceeds from a cultural, religious, or political opposition to the materials in question. Reminiscent of Nazi book burning during WWII, this painting depicts similar event. I came across this book-burning painting in the galleries of Louvre. Called Eustace Le Sueur’s Paul Preaching at Ephesus, it was painted in 1649 - just a few months later politics toppled the king and he lost his head. This painting formerly hung in Notre Dame. Paul stands at the center of the picture with locals rushing to tear up their books and throw them onto a small fire at bottom-center of the image.