Upon examination with UV light, museum officials confirmed it was in "mint condition," having never been used. Zelen noted its popularity, drawing many visitors curious to witness its provocative imagery, which accompanied prints and photographs reflecting the era's complex sexual moralities. Experts suggest that the condom may have served as a "luxury souvenir" from a high-end French brothel, with only two surviving examples known today.
The explicit print shows the nun provocatively arranged before the clergymen, a satire on both celibacy and the Judgement of Paris from Greek mythology. With the inscription "Voilà mon choix," or "There is my choice," the artifact encapsulates the dualities of sexual health consciousness during a period plagued by fears of unintended pregnancies and diseases like syphilis.
The Rijksmuseum, home to a collection of 750,000 prints, drawings, and photographs, claims this condom is the first instance of such a printed item in its holdings. While open to sharing the artifact with other institutions, museum officials emphasize the delicate nature of the condom. The artifact will be displayed until the end of November, inviting ongoing discussions about the culture of sexuality throughout history.
The explicit print shows the nun provocatively arranged before the clergymen, a satire on both celibacy and the Judgement of Paris from Greek mythology. With the inscription "Voilà mon choix," or "There is my choice," the artifact encapsulates the dualities of sexual health consciousness during a period plagued by fears of unintended pregnancies and diseases like syphilis.
The Rijksmuseum, home to a collection of 750,000 prints, drawings, and photographs, claims this condom is the first instance of such a printed item in its holdings. While open to sharing the artifact with other institutions, museum officials emphasize the delicate nature of the condom. The artifact will be displayed until the end of November, inviting ongoing discussions about the culture of sexuality throughout history.
