Early Beginnings

Born on 9 November 1918 in Willemstad, North Brabant.

Before the war, Van Gent lived with his brother Huib at their parents' home on Davidstraat 5A in Rotterdam. At the young age of 18, he began teaching German at the Kweekschool met den Bijbel in Rotterdam. His most well-known pupils after the war were Rien Poortvliet and Paul van Vliet. In addition to his teaching, Van Gent was also a talented painter, a gift that would later save his life.

Surviving in the Resistance

When World War II broke out, he joined the Dutch resistance group, the Geuzen, from Vlaardingen and surrounding areas. Not long after, on 20 February 1941, he was arrested and taken to the Scheveningen prison, also known as the Oranjehotel. After spending some time in this prison, Van Gent was deported on 9 April 1941 as prisoner 5319 to Eastern Germany, first to Buchenwald and later to Ravensbrück.

In the camp, he survived through his skills as a amateur painter. He was commissioned to create various paintings. These activities allowed him to spend time in a relatively warm environment, and he was able to occasionally slip extra food, such as dry bread, to other prisoners. The artwork made in this period was painted in a blue-grey paint, the only colour available.

At the end of the war Van Gent managed to escape together with a befriended prisoner during a death march headed for the Baltic Sea. As they fled, they found themselves caught between two fronts, but eventually, he succeeded in making his way back to the Netherlands where Van Gent was reunited with his parents.

Years after the war, Van Gent was honoured by Prince Bernhard with the Resistance Memorial Cross in recognition of his courage and resistance efforts.

A Life with Talent

After the war, painting became a beloved hobby for Van Gent. Initially focusing on oilpainted landscapes, he soon discovered the techniques of watercolour, using them to capture cityscapes of his many travels abroad. His work evolved over time, and he ultimately painted Dutch village scenes and beautiful bouquets. Additionally, he became a successful calligrapher, writing diplomas for the graduation exams at the Christelijk Gymnasium Sorghvliet. He also developed a technique for working with glass, giving it an etched appearance.

Legacy of Art

Pieter Hendrik passed away on 7 May 1995.

In total, he left a legacy of over 250 paintings, 170 of which are still in his family's possession. A significant portion of the collection is accessible online.

Processing trauma

The collection contains a blue-gray painting of a sad scene with gloomy people. Our interpretation of this painting is that Van Gent must have painted it after returning to the Netherlands as a way of processing his trauma. Strikingly, this is also the only painting where people are vaguely recognizable. The atmosphere emanating from the blue painting corresponds to Van Gent's experiences.