While a prisoner in the camps Iskowitz would use ingenuity to locate drawing materials, and sketch late into the night, always being sure to hide his drawings come morning. He would often volunteer to clean rubble from allied bombing attacks, in the hopes of finding food or art supplies amongst the destroyed shops. The paper and watercolors used to create Condemned were found in such a way. (https://www.gallery.ca/en/see/collections/artist.php?iartistid=2654)