“Illustration to ‘A Week of Kindness'” is a surrealist collage created by Max Ernst in 1934 in Paris, France. This particular piece, part of the “A Week of Kindness” series, is executed in the medium of collage on paper and measures 18 x 13 cm. Currently housed at the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart in Stuttgart, Germany, this artwork falls within the genre of illustration and exemplifies the surrealist movement.
The artwork portrays a meticulously crafted scene that combines the everyday with the fantastical, characteristic of Ernst’s surrealist approach. Dominated by intricate, etched-like textures, the illustration showcases a room occupied by several figures engaged in various actions. A woman kneels on the floor, focusing on two small, whimsical dragons at her feet. Behind her, a man in traditional garb bends over a mantle, seemingly preoccupied with some task, while two other men engage near a doorway. The scene is further enriched by a framed picture on the wall, depicting another figure in a reflective pose, contributing to the enigmatic atmosphere of the artwork. The blending of the mundane and the bizarre through collaged elements enhances the surreal, dream-like quality of the composition.
