The artwork titled “Illustration to ‘A Week of Kindness'” was created by Max Ernst in 1934 in Paris, France. Executed in collage on paper, this piece is an exemplar of the Surrealism art movement. Measuring 18 x 13 cm, the artwork is a part of the series “A Week of Kindness” and currently resides within the collection of the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart in Stuttgart, Germany.
In the artwork, one observes a surreal and unsettling scene rendered through the medium of collage. The composition appears to depict an interior space in a Victorian-style setting. Central to the image are four figures; a woman kneels on the floor with a sorrowful expression while a man standing near a mantle seems preoccupied with a book or an object. In the background, two men are engaged in conversation, exuding an air of indifference. The surreal element is heightened by a small, fantastical dragon crouching at the feet of the kneeling woman. An added dimension of peculiarity is a large framed picture on the wall, showcasing an individual with their head bowed in apparent distress. The meticulous detailing and juxtaposition of incongruent elements embody the essence of surrealism, provoking a sense of disquiet and curiosity.
