A painting from 1937 has ignited modern-day speculation that it provides evidence of time travel, with an Indigenous man depicted holding an object that bears a striking resemblance to a smartphone.
The artwork, titled 'Mr Pynchon and the Settling of Springfield,' was created by Italian-born artist Umberto Romano as part of a series of New Deal-era murals detailing the history of Springfield, Massachusetts. The specific scene portrays William Pynchon, the founder of Springfield, trading with members of the likely Pocumtuc tribe in the 1630s.
The object in question is held by a man in the foreground, who appears to be looking into the top half of a black device with a white or silver trim, similar to how someone might interact with a smartphone. The anomaly has led to widespread online discussion, with some viewers suggesting it could be an iPhone or proof of time travelers visiting the past.
However, historians and art experts offer a more grounded explanation. Art historian Daniel Crown, in 2017, identified the object as a European trade mirror, a common item exchanged during that period. The man's posture, holding the object up and looking at it, aligns with someone examining their reflection. This explanation is further supported by the fact that no other figures in the mural are depicted holding anachronistic items.
This painting is not the only historical artwork to attract such theories. Another 19th-century painting, 'The Expected One' by Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, shows a woman engrossed in a small, square object she holds, which some interpret as a smartphone due to her distracted posture. Additionally, a Greek sculpture from 100 BC, the Grave Naiskos of an Enthroned Woman with an Attendant, has been claimed to feature a laptop with USB ports.
Parallel to the resurfacing of Romano's painting, anonymous individuals have made viral claims of being time travelers. In one widely circulated interview, a person identifying as Alexander Smith, a purported former CIA operative from 1981, alleged that time travel technology has existed for decades and will become publicly available by 2028. Smith also claimed that 2028 would be the year the government discloses the existence of extraterrestrial life, asserting that authorities have long been aware of aliens.
While these theories gain traction online, the prevailing historical interpretation of the object in Romano's painting remains a trade mirror, reflecting the cultural exchanges and technological understanding of the 17th century.