Efeziërs verbranden hun boeken in het openbaar 1686

This etching, "Efeziërs verbranden hun boeken in het openbaar," by Dutch artist Etienne Picart depicts a scene of public book burning in Ephesus. Created in 1686, the artwork portrays a group of men gathered in an ancient Roman setting, as they toss volumes of books into a fire at the foot of a set of steps. The dramatic composition, with its use of light and shadow, conveys the intensity of the event and the fervor of the book burners. The etching serves as a reminder of the historical practice of book burning, which was often used to suppress dissenting ideas.