David aangesteld als lijfwacht van koning Achis 1766

Simon Fokke created this print, “David aangesteld als lijfwacht van koning Achis,” meaning David appointed as bodyguard of King Achis, in the 18th century using etching. Fokke was a Dutch artist living during The Enlightenment, a period defined by the rise of secularism and reason. Here, Fokke turns to the Old Testament, depicting David’s appointment to King Achis’s royal guard. David, a Hebrew, kneels before King Achis, a Philistine. Power dynamics are evident in their placement and interaction, but also in their garb. The hierarchy of the space, the architecture, and the characters, are all designed to place the viewer in awe of power. The image illustrates a political alliance, but the cultural biases of the time are evident in the depiction of David, who kneels, head bowed, as opposed to King Achis who remains seated.