THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) 鈥� The Netherlands' national museum has a new object on display that merges art with Amsterdam's infamous Red Light District: a nearly 200-year-old condom, emblazoned with erotic art.
The Rijksmuseum said in a statement that the playful prophylactic, believed to be made around 1830 from a sheep鈥檚 appendix, 鈥渄epicts both the playful and the serious side of sexual health.鈥�
It is part of an exhibition called 鈥淪afe Sex?鈥� about 19th century sex work that opened on Tuesday.
The condom, possibly a souvenir from a brothel, is decorated with an erotic image of a nun and three clergymen.
The phrase 鈥淭his is my choice鈥� is written along the sheath in French. According to the museum, this is a reference to a story from Greek mythology in which the Trojan prince Paris judges a beauty contest among three goddesses, and which has been depicted in numerous artworks.
The condom is on display until the end of November.
鈥斺赌�
This story was first published on Jun. 3, 2025. It was updated on Jun. 10, 2025 to correct that the reference on the condom was to the story of the judgment of Paris in Greek mythology, not specifically to the Renoir painting.
Molly Quell, The Associated Press
