The artwork titled “Illustration to ‘A Week of Kindness'” was created by Max Ernst in 1934, in Paris, France. This collage, measuring 18 x 13 cm, uses paper as its medium. It belongs to the Surrealism art movement and falls under the genre of illustration. It is part of the series “A Week of Kindness” and is currently located in the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart in Stuttgart, Germany.
The artwork presents a surreal and enigmatic scene that juxtaposes ordinary events with fantastical elements. It depicts a room with several figures engaged in various activities. At the forefront, a woman kneels, intertwining her hands, while fantastical creatures resembling dragons or gargoyles are depicted on the floor near her. A man in traditional attire stands next to her, seemingly in contemplation or sorrow. The background features two gentlemen engaged in conversation, one of whom is partially cut off from the scene. Another striking detail is the framed painting on the wall, showing a man in a dejected pose, further adding to the surreal and haunting atmosphere of the scene. The intricate detailing and the combination of mundane and extraordinary elements exemplify the surrealist ethos of combining dreams and reality.
