A quirky theory about time travel has gained traction as people spot what seem to be iPhones in 19th-century paintings. This unusual idea started gaining attention after artworks, like Die Erwartete by Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, were interpreted as depicting characters absorbed in activities like texting or using smartphones. One viral example involved a woman distracted by a “phone” while ignoring a man offering her a flower, though experts clarified she was simply focused on her hymn book.
Other paintings, like Portrait of a Boy by Ferdinand Bol and a 1937 mural in Springfield, sparked similar claims. In the latter, a Native American trader appears to be holding a device resembling an iPhone, leading to speculation about time travel or the introduction of European goods like mirrors in trade. In another artwork by Pieter de Hooch, Apple CEO Tim Cook joked about seeing a smartphone-like object in a 1670 painting.
While these claims are often met with skepticism, they continue to spark interest, blending art, history, and the fascinating concept of time travel.
