A large, grotesque creature's head dominates the right side of the composition, rendered in pale cream and coral tones against a dark background. The beast has pointed horns, round staring eyes, and a gaping mouth filled with sharp teeth. Its expression suggests both aggression and anguish. In the lower left corner, small white figures gather near flames or burning elements, appearing as distant witnesses to or participants in the creature's torment. The contrast between the massive, monstrous head and the tiny human forms creates a striking sense of scale and drama. Orange and yellow highlights in the creature's crown-like horns echo the flames below, suggesting a hellish or purgatorial scene that aligns with the artwork's title about ascetic suffering.