Robert Hoover, Ignacio Martín-Baró, c. 2016–2017, acrylic on canvas; portrait of Ignacio Martín-Baró, Salvadoran Jesuit priest, social psychologist, and founder of liberation psychology, assassinated in 1989.
Robert Hoover, Ignacio Martín-Baró, c. 2016–2017, acrylic on canvas; portrait of Ignacio Martín-Baró, Salvadoran Jesuit priest, social psychologist, and founder of liberation psychology, assassinated in 1989.
Description
Robert Hoover
American, born 1953
Ignacio Martín-Baró
c. 2016–2017
Acrylic on canvas
This portrait depicts Ignacio Martín-Baró (1942–1989), a Salvadoran Jesuit priest and social psychologist known for his role in developing liberation psychology. Martín-Baró was murdered in 1989 by members of the Salvadoran military while serving at the Universidad Centroamericana in San Salvador.
The painting employs Hoover’s characteristic use of flat tonal areas, limited palette, and stylized line. As with other portraits from this period, the image foregrounds facial structure and expression through graphic reduction rather than naturalistic modeling.
Created during a period of sustained exhibition activity for Hoover, the work reflects his practice of engaging historical and contemporary figures through portraiture. His approach emphasizes direct visual engagement and clarity of form, consistent with his stated interest in the creative act as a shared process between artist and viewer.
