Ab Major 9 - Variation 7 — Acrylic on Paper by Arnaud Quercy

About This Artwork

This work translates the Ab Major 9 chord into visual form through chromesthetic mapping, exploring how musical harmony can manifest as color relationships. Part of the Synesthetic Explorations collection, it demonstrates the artist's systematic approach to converting specific chord structures into painted compositions. The piece investigates the visual equivalent of extended jazz harmony, where the ninth adds complexity to the basic major triad.

Red-orange tones dominate the composition, appearing as coral and burnt sienna across substantial areas of the surface. Deep violet and purple create strong contrast in the lower portions, while lighter coral provides transitional passages. Small accent areas of white, orange, and dusty mauve punctuate the broader color fields. The acrylic medium on paper allows for clean color separation while maintaining subtle edge interactions between adjacent hues.

The work measures 14.8 × 21.0 cm and forms part of a systematic investigation into harmonic visualization. Certificate of authenticity number 20240228-0035 documents its provenance, with the artist's signature located at bottom right. This compact format concentrates the chord's seven-note structure into an intimate study, completed in France in 2024. The piece was acquired by a private collector in Canada in June 2024.