The artwork titled “Grotto of the Old Mass,” created by Mark Ryden in 2008, is an oil painting on canvas associated with the Lowbrow Art movement. It belongs to the figurative genre and is part of the “Snow Yak” series.
The artwork depicts a surreal scene situated within a cave adorned with icicles and stalactites, suggesting a chilly, wintry environment. A serene girl, dressed in a light blue dress, kneels on the cave’s floor, her attention focused on something unseen to the viewer. Around her, several small, white animals, likely squirrels, add to the whimsical feel of the composition. To the right, a strikingly realistic visage of a bearded man is integrated into the cave’s wall, evoking a sense of mysticism and curiosity. The background reveals a snow-laden landscape with distant mountains and a quaint wooden cabin, contributing to the overall ethereal and dreamlike atmosphere of the piece.