The artwork, an illustration from “A Week of Kindness” created by Max Ernst in 1934 in Paris, France, is a collage on paper. Measuring 18 x 13 cm, it is part of the Surrealism art movement and comes from a series bearing the same name, “A Week of Kindness”. This genre of illustration is currently located at the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart in Stuttgart, Germany.
The artwork captures a surreal, enigmatic scene blending seemingly disparate elements in a meticulously detailed black-and-white composition. In the foreground, a kneeling woman interacts with fantastical creatures that appear to be small dragons. A man facing away from the viewer stands near her, also engrossed in the strange scenario unfolding at their feet. To the right, two men in formal attire seem to be detaching themselves from the tableau, while another man looks on. The room’s furnishings, including a delicate chaise and a framed painting of a despairing figure, contribute to the overall gothic and uncanny atmosphere. The expressive, textured quality of the collage is indicative of Ernst’s adept manipulation of found imagery to create otherworldly narratives.
