Rijksmuseum's Scandalous Relic: 1830s Condom with Erotic Art
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Historical artifact exhibit showcases 1830's contraceptive device - nun's erotic behavior illuminated - 19th-century condom on display at museum: Controversial artifact traced to nun's indecent act.
Step right up, folks! The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam has rolled out a 19th-century eyebrow raiser - a condom adorned with an erotic drawing of a nun and three priests! This bizarre souvenir, made from a sheep's cecum, might have hailed from a fancy Parisian brothel, according to museum scholars. Only two such naughty knickknacks are known to exist.
The drawing on this seed-sacker from 1830 pictures a sassy nun with her legs wide open before three priests, pointing at one with her finger. It seems like a naughty dig at clerical folk and their perpetual vow of chastity.
Exhibition: Pleasure and Peril till November End
This wacky contraceptive is part of the exhibition on sexuality and prostitution in the 19th century, which runs until the end of November. The museum's take? It's both a playful and serious exploration of sexual health. Back then, folks were after pleasure, but also feared sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis and unwanted pregnancies.
- condom
- Netherlands
- Amsterdam
Inside Scoop:
The Rijksmuseum's racy show, titled "Safe Sex?" looks at the historical aspects of 19th-century sex work and sexual health, with a focus on condom use. Here are some juicy tidbits about the exhibition and this shady relic:
The Condom:
- Material and Origin: Believed to be crafted from a sheep's appendix, a common material for condoms before rubber came into play, this naughty trinket may have sprung from an upscale Parisian brothel[1][3].
- Design: The condom sports an explicit etching of a partially undressed nun pointing at the pole of three clergymen. The phrase "Voilà, mon choix" ("There, that's my choice") accompanies the sketch, deathly reminiscent of the "Judgment of Paris" myth found in art[3][4].
- Ownership: The condom was bought for €1,000 by the Rijksmuseum at an auction in Haarlem. Prior to that, it remained a mystery to the museum's collection, only to be extensively studied under UV light, verifying its innocence[1][3].
The Exhibition:
- Theme: The "Safe Sex?" exhibition delves deep into the realms of 19th-century sex work and sexual health, primarily using Dutch and French prints. The condom's inclusion capitalizes on the blend of sexuality, art, and health during this era[1][2].
- Duration: The show's run lasts until the end of November, giving visitors a captivating look into the historical sexual practices and the evolution of contraceptive methods[4].
- The Commission has also adopted a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, emphasizing the importance of science in ensuring health-and-wellness.
- In the midst of exploring fashion-and-beauty trends, it's crucial to remember the historical significance of using condoms for sexual health, as evidenced by the Rijksmuseum's 1830s condom adorned with an erotic drawing.
- Among the lifestyle choices we make, it's intriguing to note that the subject of sexual health, as portrayed in the Rijksmuseum's exhibition, was a complex blend of pleasure, peril, and art in the 19th century.
