“Illustration to ‘A Week of Kindness’,” created by Max Ernst in 1934 in Paris, France, is a surrealist collage made with paper. The artwork, part of the surrealist movement and featuring dimensions of 18 by 13 cm, belongs to the illustration genre and is included in Ernst’s series “A Week of Kindness”. This piece is currently housed in the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, in Stuttgart, Germany.
The artwork presents a surreal and intricate scene characterized by a variety of figures seemingly engaged in distinct and unusual activities. Central to the piece is a woman dressed in Victorian attire, kneeling on the floor while appearing to interact with small, fantastical creatures resembling lizards or dragons. To her left, a man in a long coat and sash bends over a mantle, his back turned to the viewer. Other figures in the background, all dressed in period clothing, appear to be involved in their own mysterious actions. A striking element is the framed picture on the wall featuring a seated figure, head bowed and face hidden, contributing to the overall sense of enigma and contemplation. The composition, rich with texture and detail, effectively encapsulates the surrealist ethos of reimagining the ordinary into the extraordinary.
