View of internment camp in winter, oil painting by Oscar Bendl

Oil painting on card stock of a scene in winter at Petawawa Internment Camp. Barracks or dormatories are visible in the background. Internees with red dots on the backs of their jackets are seen in the right foreground (on what might be an ice rink) and botton edge of the painting. On the back edge of the painting is Christmas wrapping paper.

Barracks were wooden, single-storey structures which ranged in size depending on the camp -- those at Petawawa contained 60 internees and had toilets, sinks, showers, and electric lighting. Regardless of location, the barracks contained wooden tables and benches, and a woodstove for heating in winter. Internees slept on bunk beds with a thin mattress. Every barrack was assigned a number and was represented by an appointed barrack leader. Internees had to keep their barracks clean. Barracks were inspected daily.

Internees were known to pass the time in winter skating and playing hockey.

Not much is known about the artist of this work -- Oscar Bendl -- other than he was presumably a German-Canadian internee who interacted with the Italian Canadians also held at Camp Petawawa. This painting was among the materials owned by internee Carmine De Marco.