The artwork entitled “Illustration to ‘A Week of Kindness'” was created by Max Ernst in 1934 in Paris, France. This piece, rendered in the mediums of collage and paper, is an exemplary work within the Surrealism art movement. Measuring 18 x 13 cm, it belongs to the genre of illustration and forms part of a series known as “A Week of Kindness.” Presently, the artwork is housed in the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart in Stuttgart, Germany.
The artwork portrays a scene in a finely furnished room, where various figures engage in activities suggesting tension and contemplation. A woman kneels on the floor beside what appears to be fantastical, dragon-like creatures. In the backdrop, a man faces a fireplace with his head bowed, while three other men in formal attire converse to the right. Dominating the scene is a peculiar framed picture on the wall, depicting a person in a pensive pose with their head resting on their arms. Ernst’s surreal collage creates an unsettling, dream-like atmosphere, intricately blending everyday realism with fantastical elements.
