Bb minor - Research on Harmony — Acrylic on Canvas by Arnaud Quercy

About This Artwork

This acrylic painting translates the Bb minor chord into a visual composition through chromesthetic mapping, converting the chord's three notes into corresponding colors based on the circle of fifths. Part of the Synesthetic Explorations collection and drawn from the artist's piano etudes, the piece renders a minor triad as geometric color fields on a thirty by forty centimeter canvas. The result is a minimalist study that treats harmony as both a musical and spatial phenomenon.

Violet tones fill most of the surface, reflecting Bb as the chord's root. A large teal-green shape occupies the left-center area, its curved edge cutting a clean vertical line through the composition. This steelblue-green form corresponds to one of the chord's intervals, creating a striking contrast against the surrounding purple field. A small dark form sits in the upper portion, while a dark circle anchors the right side. At the base, a deep red-purple band stretches across the full width, grounding the composition in the chord's darker harmonic register. A small rosy rectangle and a white accent near the center add measured counterpoints. The overall palette stays within the violet and red families, with the teal element providing the piece's strongest visual tension.

The compact format and limited palette keep attention focused on how three notes become three color relationships. As part of the Synesthetic Explorations collection, where the artist maps colors to the circle of fifths, this piece demonstrates how a minor chord's character translates into cool, restrained color interactions. The geometric shapes remain flat and clean, reinforcing the minimalist approach rooted in the artist's piano practice.

The work includes certificate of authenticity number 20240602-0108 and bears the artist's signature at lower right. Created in France, it is available unframed on canvas.