© Estate of the artist c/o Lefevre, London
Burra was interested in plays, films and fiction that were strong in observation of human behaviour and set in interiors heavy with atmosphere.
In this work, the steeply-raked floor, deep recession and grand architecture are all consistent with these interests. They accentuate the physical and psychological proximity of the mysterious foreground figures who, swathed and witch-like, appear to be engaged in some sinister ritual.