The artwork titled “Looking as if somebody is about to arrive – The appearance of a fireman’s wife in the Kaei era” by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi was created in the year 1888. It falls under the Ukiyo-e art movement and represents the portrait genre.
In the artwork, a woman is depicted in a traditional Japanese attire reminiscent of the Kaei era. Her hair is styled elaborately, and she is dressed in a kimono with a checkered pattern, primarily composed of deep red and shades of grey. The expression on her face is one of anticipation, suggestive of the title’s implication that someone is about to arrive. She is positioned against a background that includes a large red character and a black-and-grey geometric pattern, which reinforces the historical and cultural setting. Her hands are delicately clasped around a cane or staff, adding to the sense of expectancy captured in this Ukiyo-e portrait.
