Rich Man, Poor Man is part of a series of paintings depicting endemic architecture and their effects on society. Dial began making artwork as an extension of his home and property, embellishing the sidewalk and porch with small metal figures and concrete castings. He also made plant stands, fishing lures, and other things that served both functional and aesthetic purposes. The house structure in the painting is standard fare for Bessemer’s Pipe Shop neighborhood where Dial raised his family. On the home’s façade, however, one may notice a door that is firmly shut while a window is widely open, perhaps speaking to the options presented to the rich vs. poor man.