D Major9 - Variation 2 — Acrylic on Paper by Arnaud Quercy

About This Artwork

This work explores the visual translation of a D Major9 chord through chromesthetic mapping, part of the Synesthetic Explorations collection where musical harmonies become color relationships. The piece investigates how the chord's four notes—D3, D4, A4, and D5—can be experienced as orange tones with yellow-orange accents, creating a visual harmony that mirrors its musical counterpart.

Orange tones dominate the composition, ranging from deep russet in the lower register to lighter darksalmon in the upper frequencies. Gray areas provide structural support throughout the piece, while a yellow-orange accent appears as darkgoldenrod, representing the A4 note that adds harmonic complexity to the basic D major structure. The acrylic paint creates distinct geometric forms that layer and intersect, with each color maintaining its own spatial territory while contributing to the overall harmonic structure.

This small-format work measures 10.0 × 15.0 cm and weighs minimal amounts on paper support, making it part of an intimate series exploring musical concepts through visual means. The piece carries certificate number 20240220-0018 and bears the artist's signature in the bottom right corner. Created in France in 2024, it represents the second variation in this particular harmonic research, demonstrating how a single chord can generate multiple visual interpretations while maintaining its core musical identity.