Untitled

The tiger is, without doubt, the fiercest creature to roam the wilds of South Asia, so it is fitting that it should be the vahana, or mount, of Durga, the demon-slaying goddess who is as benevolent as she is courageous. The tiger’s savage temperament is on display in this painting where M. F. Husain depicts its ability to move rapidly, its snarling face, sharp fangs, unsheathed claws and strident stripes adding to its ferocious stance. By giving it two faces, the artist dexterously conveys a sense of the swift movement of its head. Sitting atop the roaring tiger is a female figure with a weapon across her lap, while another figure cowers below.