“Two kinds of people in this world never quit: those who want to pass dirty pictures around, and those who want to stop them. It’s an ancient conflict, one that’s not likely ever to be resolved.”

—John Schwartz, staff writer for the Washington Post

In 1908, archaeologist Josef Szombathy discovered a small naked figurine in the mud outside Willendorf, Austria. The “Venus of Willendorf”—as the ancient figurine was called— had pendulous breasts, exposed vulva, and large buttocks. More Venus figurines were discovered throughout Europe, and their overt sexuality led to heated conflict among archaeologists: Were the Venuses pornographic art, or were they ancient fertility goddesses celebrating women? Those studying the Venuses were influenced by contemporary attitudes about sexual imagery, and many were disturbed by the figurine’s eroticism. As a result, the Venuses were kept out of...