The artwork, titled “Illustration to ‘A Week of Kindness’,” was created by Max Ernst in 1934 in Paris, France. This collage, crafted from paper, is a notable piece within the Surrealism art movement and forms part of Ernst’s “A Week of Kindness” series. The artwork measures 18 x 13 cm and is currently housed in the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart in Stuttgart, Germany.
In this artwork, various figures are depicted in a domestic interior setting, rendered in black and white with fine details. A prominently featured woman kneels on the floor, attending to two small, mythical dragon-like creatures. To her right, a man in a white garment stands facing away from the viewer, while three other male figures, dressed in formal coats, are seen moving towards the background, engaging in what seems to be a conversation or contemplation. On the left wall, a painting within the scene depicts a man with his head bowed, suggesting a sense of sorrow or introspection. The overall composition juxtaposes the mundane with the fantastical, encapsulating the surrealist qualities that characterize Max Ernst’s oeuvre.
