View of internment camp in late summer/fall, oil painting by Oscar Bendl

Oil painting on card stock of a sunset scene in late summer/fall 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 left foreground and botton edge of the painting. On the back 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.

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.