[Visualizing the 'unspeakable': venereal diseases at the 1926 GeSoLei (Great Exhibition for Health Care, Social...

The GeSoLei (Great Exhibition for Health Care, Social Welfare, and Physical Exercise) held in Düsseldorf in 1926 was one of the largest exhibitions of the Weimar Republic. At its core was the often visual communication of health-related topics-including the presentation of sexually transmitted diseases. These subjects were conveyed within the complex interplay between medical education, moral normalization, and esthetic staging. The section "Common Diseases, Common Ailments, Common Vices" (Main Section Social Welfare) brought together conditions such as tuberculosis, alcoholism, and syphilis-sicknesses that were not only medically, but also socially and morally charged. Through the use of information boards, wax models (moulages), and interactive exhibits, connections between sexuality, disease, and social responsibility were emphasized. The visual strategy followed a pedagogical and often deterrent approach, which, through standardized forms of representation, enabled communication suited for a mass audience. In addition to the guiding principle of social hygiene, the exhibition also incorporated ideas of racial and hereditary health, placing sexually transmitted diseases within the context of "public health" and "rational population management." However, aspects of sexual diversity or sexology-as advocated by figures like Magnus Hirschfeld-were deliberately excluded. This article analyzes the visual and conceptual presentation of sexually transmitted diseases at GeSoLei as a representative example of the medicalization and moralization of sexuality in the early 20th century-embedded in a complex web of science, society, politics, and aesthetics.