German artist terribly stern (5)
I believe the answer is:
ernst
'german artist' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'terribly stern' is the wordplay.
'terribly' indicates an anagram.
'stern' anagrammed gives 'ERNST'.
(Other definitions for ernst that I've seen before include "He painted" , "artist's name" , "Surrealist; stern (anag.)" , "Young partner" , "Max --, German painter" .)