Doop van de kamerling 1696 - 1727

This etching, "Doop van de kamerling," was created by Matthijs Pool sometime between 1691 and 1740. Pool was working during the Dutch Golden Age, a period marked by significant social and political changes following the Dutch Revolt. The image depicts the baptism of the chamberlain, an Ethiopian official, by Philip the Apostle. This scene is especially interesting when viewed through the lens of the 17th century, a time of expanding European colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade. The story of the chamberlain counters the racist ideologies which were used to justify these practices. Rather than portraying the Ethiopian man as inferior, the etching shows him converting to Christianity and being welcomed into the religious community. Pool's delicate rendering invites us to consider the transformative power of faith, while also confronting the complex relationship between religion, race, and power during the artist's lifetime.