Rockwell was one of the lucky few who was not much affected by the depression.

The medical profession is always treated sympathetically in Rockwell’s work. His doctors make house calls take the time to chat with patients and have worthy bedside manners.  We can tell that the child has just arrived at his office for she is still wearing a scarf and mittens.  Her face is clouded with apprehension, but the doctor does his best to set her mind at rest by entering her fantasy world and placing his stethoscope to her doll’s chest.

At the breakfast table a wife finds herself isolated from her husband who has buried himself in his newspaper. All of Rockwell’s sympathy is directed toward the wife. Her face expresses resignation but not yet despair. This marriage has only recently entered this phase. It was painted at a point in Rockwell’s life when he had recently been divorced by his first wife.

The poses of the three figures tell us all that we need to know about the subjects, but there are many quiet embellishments---the escaping frog, the limp daisies, the deflated balloon—that add to the success of the composition. He knows what must be done to make the situation believable.