In many ways, humans in modern societies seem to be occupied to a considerable amount by a longing to establish whatever they do as if it were the first time any human has ever done it. The arts are full of this myth of originality and firstness. However, at closer inspection, there often appear events or activities by someone else that were at least foreshadowing what later appeared as totally new and the first time. The article takes up a few cases of this kind related to digital art.