The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam has announced that a rare condom dating from 1830 will go on display in its print room as part of an exhibition on 19th-century sex work and sexuality. The nearly 200-year-old condom, likely made from a sheep's appendix and featuring an erotic image of a nun and three clergymen with the inscription "Voilà mon choix" ("This is my choice"), is one of only two such surviving objects and was purchased by the museum at auction six months ago.
This display matters because it highlights the Rijksmuseum's commitment to exploring marginalized historical narratives, including sexuality and sex work, through its vast collection. By placing a rare and provocative everyday object alongside masterworks by Rembrandt and Vermeer, the museum challenges traditional hierarchies of art and offers a more inclusive view of 19th-century Dutch culture and social history.