Linda, a larger-than-life statue of a woman, was made during the Great Depression. Standing barefoot in a plain dress, with legs apart, the unadorned figure illustrates female strength and determination. The frontal pose, stern demeanour and sturdy body denote stalwart courage. Despite the title, no one is known to have posed for this sculpture, which has been variously interpreted as an immigrant, a peasant and a labourer. Linda was a turning point in the career of Elizabeth Wyn Wood, marking her shift from landscape sculptures to works addressing the place of women in society.

Born in Orillia, Ontario, Elizabeth Wyn Wood displayed outstanding talent throughout her sculpture training at the Ontario College of Art. In 1928, she became a founding member of the Sculptors Society of Canada. Through her involvement in the society and later in the Canada Arts Council, from 1944 to 1949, Wyn Wood was an advocate for the recognition of women as professional artists. She is especially well known for her small-scale landscape sculptures, created in a style directly influenced by the Group of Seven.