D Major9 - Variation 4 — Acrylic on Paper by Arnaud Quercy

About This Artwork

This work explores the visual translation of a D Major9 chord through synesthetic color mapping, part of the artist's ongoing research into the relationship between musical harmony and visual perception. The piece demonstrates how complex jazz harmonies can be rendered visible through systematic color assignments based on the circle of fifths. Each color corresponds to specific pitches within the chord structure, creating a visual representation of musical relationships.

Gray tones dominate the composition, establishing the foundational D3 root note, while warm yellow-orange hues appear throughout the surface in varied intensities, representing the A notes at different octaves. Golden yellow provides bright accents corresponding to the A4 pitch, while softer tan areas map to A5. Small touches of blue-green and pale blue create subtle harmonic tensions, translating the chord's upper extensions into visual form. The geometric arrangement of rectangular and curved forms suggests the layered structure of the ninth chord itself.

This acrylic on paper work measures 10 × 15 cm and weighs minimal due to its compact format on paper support. The piece belongs to the Synesthetic Explorations collection, where Quercy systematically investigates color-sound relationships. Certificate of authenticity number 20240220-0020 accompanies the work, with the artist's signature located at bottom right. The painting was completed in France during January 2024 and represents the fourth variation in this specific harmonic research series.