The artwork titled “Illustration to ‘A Week of Kindness'” was created by Max Ernst in 1934, in Paris, France. This piece is a collage made with paper and belongs to the Surrealism art movement. It forms part of a series named “A Week of Kindness” and measures 18 x 13 cm. The artwork is located at the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart in Stuttgart, Germany.
The artwork exemplifies Max Ernst’s mastery in surrealist collage-making, portraying a blend of seemingly disparate elements to create an unsettling and thought-provoking scene. The image depicts an indoor scene featuring several figures in 19th-century attire. At the left, a woman kneels near the ground, animating a figure that appears to be a dragon-like creature. In the center, a man leans over a table, with other men in the background appearing engaged in conversation or some form of activity. A notable element is the framed image on the wall, where another figure is shown in a posture of reflection or distress, adding a layer of introspective tension to the piece. The juxtaposition of reality and fantasy elements is emblematic of Ernst’s surrealist techniques, inviting viewers to delve into the complexities of the human subconscious.
