Tobacco Queue, Karangahape Road, Auckland

Tobacco Queue, Karangahape Road, Auckland (or simply Tobacco Queue) is a characteristic Bessie Christie subject. She has observed a typical wartime activity, painting it with dashing informality in contrast to the rather tight, studied watercolour technique she used earlier in her career. Christie is a good example of a talented artist who managed to surmount the obstacles of a conventional art education and maintain a fresh approach to subject matter in the face of prevailing fashion. In recent years, her work, although rarely found, has become increasingly sought after because of its originality.