1937 Painting Shows Man with ‘iPhone’ Striking a Familiar Pose
Credit: eunikas / Adobe Stock
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There’s a mural painted on the wall of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Office Building in Springfield, Massachusetts, that has led many to scratch their heads. The building was formerly the Central Post Office, and the mural is under the care of the United States Postal Museum.
The mural was painted by Umberto Romano, an Italian-born painter who later settled in Springfield. The larger mural is known as “The History of Springfield.” However, there’s a section, “Mr. Pynchon and the Settling of Springfield,” that has attracted quite a bit of curiosity over the years.
“Mr. Pynchon” of the mural appears in pink and is William Pynchon, who’s now known as the founder of Springfield. The mural is a mosaic that depicts different aspects of early Springfield prior to the Revolutionary War rather than one specific moment. It includes settlers, animals, and Native Americans.
There’s a lot happening in the painting, but what most people can’t ignore is the Native American man in the lower center who appears to be surprised about what he’s seeing on his “iPhone.” Is he taking a selfie? Maybe doom scrolling?
The iPhone wasn’t first released until 2007, 70 years after the mural’s completion. However, the man’s reaction is instantly recognizable and something we’ve become accustomed to seeing daily. Years ago, Vice was intrigued enough to do a bit of investigation into what exactly the Native American man could be holding and reacting to.
Vice couldn’t find any comments made by Romano, the artist, about the man with the “smartphone.” However, the researchers corresponded with a historian who wrote an essay on William Pynchon, David Crown.
Crown believes the man is possibly looking at a mirror for the first time. Crown told Vice, “Given the scene’s focus on the founding of Springfield, Romano, in reductive fashion, was probably trying to capture the introduction of modernity into a curious but technologically stunted community, which was instantly bewitched by Pynchon’s treasure trove of shiny objects.” Another possibility, according to Crown, is the man is holding a small version of a religious text.
Did we need anyone to confirm that the man in the painting isn’t looking at an iPhone? Of course not. But how do you explain this painting by Romano?
That’s an iPad, right? Whatever is going on in these paintings, we all can see the eerie similarities to modern life. Maybe it’s time to put down our devices for a bit!
