The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam has acquired a rare 19th-century condom featuring an erotic etching, marking the first condom in the museum’s collection. The artwork depicts a nun and three clergymen in a provocative scene.

The condom, purchased for one thousand euros with support from the F. G. Waller Fund, will be featured in a presentation on sexuality and prostitution in the 19th century. This acquisition highlights the museum’s growing focus on openly addressing previously under-represented subjects.

Curator Joyce Zelen suggests the condom, likely made from sheep’s intestine, may be a souvenir from a Paris brothel due to its unusual length and the fact that UV light suggests it has never been used. Although condoms were washed and reused in the 19th century, Zelen believes this specific condom was never actually used as a contraceptive.

The etching mocks the church’s disapproval of contraception during that era. It portrays a nun proclaiming “Voilà, mon choix” to a clergyman, while a cradle behind her insinuates her desire to become pregnant, despite the church’s ban on contraception.

The presentation, titled “Safe Sex,” will be on display in the print room of the Rijksmuseum until November 30th. It aims to shed light on sexuality and prostitution in the 19th century, a topic that has only recently begun to be openly discussed in museums.