The Philistine: "Books to Burn" 1898

"The Philistine: 'Books to Burn'" (1898) by William Wallace Denslow is a satirical cartoon depicting a figure burning books. The image features a man with a pointed beard, dressed in a robe and sandals, using a stick to stir flames engulfing a pile of books labelled "JOB" and "Philistine Roycroft." This artwork, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, exemplifies the use of caricature and symbolism in satirical art, offering a commentary on the burning of books as a form of censorship. Denslow's caricature of a book-burning figure with a mocking expression highlights the absurdity of this act. The visual elements, including the burning books and the figure's exaggerated features, contribute to the artwork's message.