Mori Sosen's legacy is his painting of animals, particularly monkeys, their personalities and attitudes as well as their coats and the movement of their muscles underneath.
Monkey Performing the Sanbaso Dance, on this month's cover, showcases both Mori Sosen's favorite subject matter and his artistic style, a blend of realism and expressiveness.
As it lifts up the bells to ring in the New Year 1800, Mori Sosen's beloved monkey in the flawless kimono continues the age-old dance celebrating our phylogenetic closeness.