Une semaine de bonté

Max Ernst's Une semaine de bonté is a landmark surrealist graphic novel, originally published from 1963 to 1978 by Pauvert, though conceived as a single, monumental volume. Composed entirely of collaged Victorian-era engravings, the book unfolds a dreamlike, nightmarish narrative in five parts, each centered on a different element and a recurring bestial character. As the sole creator, Ernst—a key figure in the Dada and Surrealist movements—crafted a wordless masterpiece that pushes the boundaries of sequential art, demonstrating how found imagery can be recontextualized into a cohesive, unsettling story. Its enduring power lies in its radical, poetic fusion of high art and comic form, influencing generations of avant-garde cartoonists.