The painting depicts a sick child lying in bed under a blanket. A woman, whose eyes are turned towards the child, sits next to the bed. The woman wears a shawl and a white blouse, and her dark hair is drawn back into a bun. She holds a magazine in her hands. The child's head is turned towards the light from the back. The background shows furniture and a delicate pink plant in blossom. The painting has a colour scheme dominated by earthy colour tones, and its thoughtful composition echoes Cubism.