The artwork, titled “Illustration to ‘A Week of Kindness,'” was created by the eminent artist Max Ernst in 1934 in Paris, France. This surrealist collage, crafted on paper, is part of the art movement known as Surrealism. Measuring 18 by 13 centimeters, this piece belongs to the genre of illustrations and is a component of the series “A Week of Kindness.” The artwork is currently housed in the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart located in Stuttgart, Germany.
The artwork displays an intricate scene, imbued with surrealistic elements. The composition is taken from modified Victorian engravings, featuring a kneeling woman and a group of men. The woman appears to be interacting with small mythical creatures on the floor which adds a fantastical element to the otherwise domestic interior. Additionally, a man in the foreground leans on a mantelpiece, looking solemn. The image above the mantelpiece features a figure appearing to be mourning or in deep contemplation. The scene evokes a sense of the uncanny through its juxtaposition of the ordinary with the bizarre, a hallmark of Max Ernst’s surrealist technique. The use of monochromatic tones accentuates the haunting and enigmatic quality of the illustration.
