“Illustration to ‘A Week of Kindness'” is a collage by the artist Max Ernst, created in 1934 in Paris, France. This work, belonging to the Surrealism art movement, is part of a series titled “A Week of Kindness”. The medium employed is paper, creating a collage effect. The dimensions of the artwork are 18 x 13 cm, and it is categorized under the genre of illustration. Currently, the artwork is housed in the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, located in Stuttgart, Germany.
The artwork depicts an intricately detailed scene that merges everyday occurrences with fantastical surreal elements. In the foreground, a woman is shown kneeling with an air of somber demeanor beside a fantastical creature resembling a small dragon. A man, positioned centrally and facing away from the viewer, stands near a mantelpiece, while another man proceeds towards a well-dressed figure who appears to be about to leave the room. On the wall hangs a frame containing an image of a person in a pose of deep contemplation or sorrow, evocatively blending the real and the surreal. The detailed engravings and the surreal insertions exemplify Max Ernst’s mastery in creating thought-provoking and imaginative narratives through collage.
