The artwork, titled “Illustration to ‘A Week of Kindness'”, is a collage on paper created by the artist Max Ernst in 1934 in Paris, France. A representative work of the Surrealism art movement, the collage is part of the series “A Week of Kindness”. Measuring 18 by 13 centimeters, the artwork currently resides in the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart located in Stuttgart, Germany.
The artwork displays a meticulous and surreal scene depicting several figures engaged in varied activities. A woman kneels on the floor, her focus seemingly drawn towards small, fantastical creatures resembling dragons. Positioned in the center is a man with his back turned, leaning over a piece of furniture, suggesting a state of contemplation or examination. Behind him stands another man, slightly off to the side, appearing pensive. The overall scene is further surrealized by the inclusion of a painting within the composition, which portrays a figure with their head bowed, adding layers of introspection and mystery to the entire piece. Max Ernst has employed his signature collage technique to create an intricate and dreamlike tableau that blurs the boundaries between reality and imagination.
