The artwork titled “Illustration to ‘A Week of Kindness'” was created by Max Ernst in 1934 in Paris, France. Ernst employed the medium of collage on paper to produce this piece, which belongs to the Surrealism art movement. The artwork, measuring 18 x 13 cm, is part of the series “A Week of Kindness” and is housed in the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart in Stuttgart, Germany. It is classified under the genre of illustration.
In the artwork, a scene unfolds within a finely detailed interior setting. Central to the composition are four human figures engaged in various activities: one man at the forefront with his back to the viewer appears deep in thought, another gentleman in a suit stands behind him, a woman kneels on the floor in a posture of supplication or agony, and a fourth individual seems to be moving away. Above the scene hangs a framed picture of a man seemingly withdrawing into himself, his face hidden, adding a layer of introspection to the narrative. Symbolically rich, the artwork features a small, fantastical dragon-like creature beside the kneeling woman, emphasizing the surreal and imaginative world typical of Ernst’s oeuvre. The meticulous detail and enigmatic elements invite reflection on themes of sorrow, escape, and possibly inner turmoil.
