William Frater was one of the earliest modernist artists in Melbourne, whose work was strongly influenced by Post-impressionism and Paul Cézanne. The red hat is a portrait of Frater’s close friend, artist Lina Bryans. He had met Bryans in 1936 and was influential in her decision to become an artist. Frater and Bryans painted together for many years and he gave her the advice to ‘draw with the brush’, an approach that is clearly evident in his own painting.