Folktale of an old man, a woman and a sparrow

Robert Muller Catalog Card, glued to the back (original source not noted): "...In Kiyochika's painting, the greedy old woman looks up in astonishment at the monster that has burst out of the wicker box strapped to her back -- a Westerner in a bowler hat! The eye in the center of the forehead is rendered in a style reserved for traditional Japanese monsters, identifying the type as a "little three-eye" (mitsume kozo). Inside the box we can see another monster-eye peering out. In her fright, the woman has slipped out of one of her straw sandals and dropped her hand lantern, which bursts into flame. The characters on the lantern read "Suzumeya" (The Sparrow), referring to the sparrow's residence from which she is returning."

Scroll contained in modern cardboard box with lid.