It is always fascinating seeing what people in the past thought of the future. “France in the Year 2000” is a series of paintings made by Jean-Marc Cote and other French artists in 1899, 1900, 1901 and 1910.
The Washington Post dug them up and reports that the series of paintings were also printed and enclosed in cigarette and cigar boxes in Paris. They were later turned into postcards as well.
Lots of the ideas envision mechanised devices and flying (I am personally still hanging out for flying cars). There is a fascination with marine life too, opposed to something like good old fashioned space travel. Space is so cliche I guess.
Some of the paintings are quite accurate, including farming machines, helicopters, and what looks like a precursor to robot vacuum cleaners.
I really wish some of these were around right now, especially A Whale Bus, as long as the whale was cool with it and got a decent wage.
