McCown (aka MacCown), William Charles (American, 1898-1966), The Room Without a Ceiling, 1937, ink and charcoal on paper, signed and dated lower right, additionally titled on the mount, 18.5 x 13.75 inches, matted and framed 28 x 22 inches. Born in Missouri, McCown moved to Paris in 1921 where he fell in with a crowd of artists and American expats, including Cole Porter, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Getrude Stein, Andre Gide, Louis Aragon, Jean Cocteau and Rene Crevel. In March 1925, he had his first show in Paris, with most of the paintings depicting men in various stages of intimacy. He lived as an out gay man in Paris, though the homoerotic charge of his paintings was never mentioned by critics. He later had a number of other important shows in Europe and the US, and was included in the group exhibition 46 Painters and Sculptors under 35 Years of Age (MoMA, 1930). He returned to the US in 1933 and was active in the art world until 1945, mainly as part of the Federal Art Project (FAP). This is an interesting and sexually charged work showing hints of surrealism. His work rarely turns up for auction. In seemingly good condition, unexamined outside of the frame. Merchandise will be packed and transported by the purchaser at their own risk and expense. A list of recommended shippers is on our website: https://www.conceptgallery.com/auctions/shipping/ .