Artist in northern states (5)

I believe the answer is:

ernst

'artist' is the definition.
(max ernst)

'in northern states' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'ERNST' can be found hidden inside 'northern states'.

(Other definitions for ernst that I've seen before include "He painted" , "Max -, twentieth century German Surrealist artist" , "Max __; Dadaist" , "Young partner" , "German-born painter, Max, co-founder of dadaism, d. 1976" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.

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