Figures from Hindu religious mythology were a recurring theme in Husain’s paintings. As early as the 1950s, Indian gods and goddesses appeared in his paintings, as well as scenes Islamic and Christian traditions.

Here, the goddess Durga, representative of the triumph of good over evil - the divine mother, rides the tiger, a symbol of limitless power. Durga is shown in full flight, brandishing a sword, hair blowing, mouth open in a scream, urging the tiger forward into battle.

Husain’s use of bold, flat colours draws on the aesthetics of classical Mughal, Jain and Basholi paintings, as well that of classical sculpture. In Kalighat paintings Mahishasura is depicted with dark blue/green skin. Perhaps the lower right section of the painting references Duga’s defeat of the buffalo demon. The world around her blurring into a frenzy of colour.