Time Travel Claims Over 160-Year-Old Painting Debunked

A 160-year-old painting by Ferdinand George Waldmüller, titled 'The Expected One', has sparked online debate over a woman depicted holding an object resembling a modern smartphone, fueling claims of time travel. The artwork is displayed at the Neue Pinakothek museum in Munich, Germany. The theory emerged around 2017 when viewers noted the woman's two-handed grip and thumb position, which they compared to using a touchscreen device. However, experts suggest she is likely reading a small pocket book, a common item in that era, rather than a phone. Similar speculation occurred in 2016 when former Apple chief Tim Cook claimed to see an iPhone in a 350-year-old painting in Amsterdam. Both cases lack genuine evidence, with the resemblance attributed to coincidence and modern interpretation.