The artwork, “Illustration to ‘A Week of Kindness’,” created by Max Ernst in 1934 in Paris, France, is a collage on paper measuring 18 by 13 centimeters. This piece, belonging to the Surrealism art movement, is part of the “A Week of Kindness” series and resides in the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart in Stuttgart, Germany. It embodies the genre of illustration.
In the artwork, a scene unfolds in a domestic setting. A woman, depicted in Victorian attire, kneels on the ground, facing a pair of small, fantastical dragon-like creatures. Adjacent to her, a man in traditional dress stands with his back turned, seemingly engaged in earnest contemplation. The background reveals intricate furniture, highlighting the era’s interior aesthetic. Hanging on the wall is a framed picture, which curiously shows another figure in a distressed position, with head resting on crossed arms. Meanwhile, two other male figures, dressed in suits, appear to be in conversation or subtly vacating the room, adding an element of dynamic tension to the scene. The surreal juxtaposition and the mixture of objects and beings create an atmosphere of mystery and intrigue, true to the principles of Surrealism.
