The artwork titled “Illustration to ‘A Week of Kindness'” by Max Ernst, created in 1934 in Paris, France, is a collage composed on paper. As an example of Surrealism, this illustration is part of the series “A Week of Kindness” and measures 18 by 13 centimeters. It belongs to the genre of illustration and is currently housed in the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, located in Stuttgart, Germany.
The artwork depicts a surreal, dream-like scene with various figures seemingly engaged in an enigmatic interaction within a room. The central figure in the foreground appears to be a woman in Victorian attire kneeling on the floor, with small dragon-like creatures at her feet, one of which may be casting a shadow of a human figure. This peculiar element aligns with the surrealistic style. To her right stands a man in traditional Middle Eastern or Ottoman dress, looking down at a shadow on the floor, seemingly absorbed in contemplation. In the background, two men, possibly European, are interacting, one of whom is possibly deterring the other from exiting the scene. On the wall, there is a framed picture of a man who appears to be in deep sorrow, adding to the overall mysterious and somber atmosphere of the illustration. The juxtaposition of different clothing styles and the incorporation of bizarre elements such as the dragons contribute to the surreal nature of the piece, characteristic of Max Ernst’s artistic approach during the Surrealism movement.
