Discover the Fascinating 200-Year-Old Condom with Erotic Art Now on Display at a Dutch Museum!

The Rijksmuseum in the Netherlands has added a surprising item to its art collection: a 200-year-old condom. This unique piece of history features erotic art showing a nun pointing at three clergymen. It was auctioned for €1,000 in Haarlem last November and is now part of an exhibition called “Safe Sex?” focused on 19th-century sex work.

Historians believe this condom, made around 1830, originated from a high-end brothel in France, probably in Paris. It’s made from a sheep’s appendix, a precursor to modern contraceptives since vulcanized rubber wasn’t invented until nine years later. This item is particularly notable because it’s the first condom included in the Rijksmuseum’s extensive collection.

The playful art piece reads “Voila, mon choix” (“There, that’s my choice”), which adds to its provocative nature. The museum describes it as highlighting both the fun and serious aspects of sexual health. The imagery also nods to the famous painting “The Judgment of Paris” by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, which depicts a beauty contest among three goddesses.

Recently, experts in sexual health have discussed how historical artifacts like this can shift perceptions about sexual health and education. Dr. Anna Johnson, a historian of sexuality, notes that such displays can help normalize conversations surrounding sexual health. They remind us that societal attitudes toward sex have evolved significantly over the centuries.

Visitors can see this fascinating artifact until the end of November in the “Safe Sex?” exhibition, inviting everyone to reflect on how views on sexuality have changed over the last two centuries.

For more insights into sexual health history, check out this report from the World Health Organization.

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