A 17th-Century Painting Depicting a Man Holding an Object Similar to a Smartphone.
In the painting “Mr. Pynchon and the Settling of Springfield” by artist Umberto Romano, created in 1937, a Native American is seen holding a small rectangular object that strikingly resembles modern smartphones, according to The Sun.
The painting “Mr. Pynchon and the Settling of Springfield” by artist Umberto Romano. (Photo: The Sun).
The painting depicts William Pynchon surrounded by Native Americans after arriving in America. Born in 1590, Pynchon was an English fur trader known for establishing what is now the city of Springfield, Massachusetts.
On the left side of the painting, a man adorned with feathers in his hair sits in a large ceramic bowl. He is holding an object in his right hand, mimicking the modern posture of someone using a smartphone, swiping its screen with their thumb.
The man holding an object resembling a smartphone. (Photo: The Sun).
However, smartphones are a modern invention that did not emerge until 400 years after the time period depicted in this painting. Imaginative minds immediately suggested that this could be evidence of time travel.
According to VICE, the Italian artist Romano passed away in 1982, long before anyone had heard of the concept of an iPhone or a smartphone. Notably, the first mention of the “man holding a smartphone” was made by writer and historian Daniel Crown in an essay about William Pynchon.
Crown told VICE that while the object resembles an iPhone, it is likely just a humorous misunderstanding. He stated: “With the focus on the founding of Springfield, Romano was probably trying to introduce a sense of modernity to a community that was less technologically aware. The people of Springfield were curious about items that belonged to a more modern community, and thus they were immediately captivated by Pynchon’s collection of shiny objects.”
Daniel Crown also speculated that the object is more likely to be a small mirror rather than something accidentally left behind by time travelers, as many have suggested. Meanwhile, other experts believe the debated object is actually a crude depiction of a blade or knife.
Previously, another photograph stirred excitement about time travel, capturing a woman holding a modern handheld camera behind the famous actress Marilyn Monroe.
The woman behind Marilyn Monroe holding an object resembling a modern camera. (Photo: YouTube).
Historian Daniel Crown believes that the “smartphone” in the painting is actually a mirror. The painting illustrates the astonishment of Native Americans at the items Pynchon brought with him, which likely included a small mirror. According to various studies, Europeans introduced mirrors to Native Americans in the 17th century, and they quickly became a part of the local culture.
