1937 painting of a man using an “iPhone” goes viral and leaves internet users confused

1937 painting of a man using an ‘iPhone’ goes viral and confuses internet users (Photo: Smithsonian National Postal Museum)

A 1937 painting is gaining attention for a completely unexpected reason. Apparently, the man in the image is holding what looks like a smartphone.

The painting in question, titled Mr. Pynchon and the Settling of Springfield, was created by Italian painter Umberto Romano and depicts the colonizer William Pynchon, the founder of Springfield, Massachusetts, before the city was developed.

However, in the center of the image, you can see a Native American man holding what appears to be an iPhone, with an expression that seems to reflect the shock of receiving an unusual message.

(Photo: X)

The painting is at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum and has recently gone viral on social media. “Is that a gold iPhone?” asked one user. “The expression on his face, like he just saw his latest post rejected and forgotten,” joked another.

While it’s unclear exactly what the Native American man is holding in the image, it’s safe to say it’s likely a hand mirror, which was very common at the time.

It’s also worth noting that this isn’t the first time Romano has gone viral for this theme. In another one of his paintings, a woman appears to be holding an object that looks very much like an iPad.

Photo and video: Smithsonian National Postal Museum. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.