C Major - Variation 12 — Watercolor on Paper by Arnaud Quercy

About This Artwork

This work explores the visual translation of a C Major triad through chromesthetic mapping, part of the Synesthetic Explorations collection. The piece transforms the fundamental chord structure of C, E, and G into their corresponding color equivalents, creating a visual étude that mirrors the harmonic relationships found in piano music. The spread voicing spans from Bb3 to E6, with each note assigned its chromesthetic color through systematic analysis.

Yellow tones dominate the upper register, appearing throughout the composition as the visual equivalent of the high E. Red-orange forms substantial areas in the middle range, representing the G fourth interval, while red accents correspond to the root C. The watercolor technique allows these harmonic colors to blend at their boundaries, creating intermediate hues that mirror the acoustic beating patterns between closely spaced frequencies. A violet accent appears as a single dark note, representing the Bb3 that grounds the extended voicing.

The work measures 10.0 × 15.0 cm and weighs minimal as watercolor on paper. This piece represents Variation 12 within the broader harmonic research series, maintaining the compact format that characterizes the collection. Certificate of authenticity number 20250125-0047 accompanies the work, with the artist's signature located bottom right. The geometric composition uses black linear elements to define spatial relationships between color areas, echoing the structural framework of musical notation.