The artwork titled “Illustration to ‘A Week of Kindness'” was created by Max Ernst in 1934 in Paris, France. This piece, belonging to the Surrealism movement, is crafted using collage on paper and measures 18 by 13 cm. It falls within the genre of illustration and is part of the “A Week of Kindness” series. The artwork is presently housed in the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart in Stuttgart, Germany.
The artwork displays a complex and surreal scene inside what appears to be an elaborately furnished room. At the center, a woman is depicted kneeling on the floor, surrounded by unusual creatures that resemble small dragons. Her demeanor appears absorbed or contemplative. Nearby, a man with his back turned is engaged in some activity by a fireplace or ornate mantel. To the right, two other men are shown mid-conversation or in the midst of an interaction. One prominent feature is a framed picture on the wall, depicting a man with his head resting on his arms, which adds to the surreal nature by creating a picture-within-a-picture effect. The detailed setting and odd juxtaposition of elements in the artwork evoke a sense of the bizarre, characteristic of the Surrealist movement.
