The artwork titled “Illustration to ‘A Week of Kindness'” was created by Max Ernst in 1934 in Paris, France. This piece, which is part of the “A Week of Kindness” series, is a surrealist collage made from paper. It measures 18 x 13 centimeters and is classified under the genre of illustration. Presently, the artwork resides in the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart in Stuttgart, Germany.
The artwork depicts a surreal and enigmatic scene rendered in a detailed, monochromatic style. In the foreground, a woman is kneeling on the floor, her hands close to her lap, while small, menacing dragon-like creatures appear at her feet. A man, dressed in attire suggesting a past era, either cleans or examines something near the mantelpiece. Behind him, two men are either arriving or leaving, engaged in conversation. The room is ornately decorated, with decorative chairs and a framed painting adorning the walls. The painting within the artwork shows a man, visibly distressed, seated and covering his face with his arms, enhancing the overall air of mystery and psychological depth that is characteristic of surrealist works.
