The Queue at the Fish-shop

The Queue at the Fish-shop is a quirky, individual expression of life in the artist’s home town of Rochester, Kent. Dunbar’s gentle sense of humour is evident in the sign reading ‘Large supplies of fresh fish from the coast daily’, since normal fishing was restricted both by the Royal Navy’s requisitioning of boats, and by German naval operations. Fish was never rationed because of its perishability, and so was highly sought after despite its scarcity. The painting also incorporates Dunbar and her family amongst the townsfolk – the artist looks out at the viewer from the foreground, while her husband cycles past. Her sister crosses the road briskly with her basket while her brother stands in the doorway of Onslow and Sons, wearing a cap and with his head cocked to the side.