Having lived his entire life near Washburn, Henry Lorentzen was strongly influenced by the Missouri River and other natural surroundings.

A farmer and rancher by trade, he had no formal art training. He set up his studio on bluffs overlooking the river and from there, produced numerous landscapes in pastel-colored oils, watercolors, pen and ink, and pencil.

Some of his work depicts a Missouri River that was largely untouched and resembled some of the views seen by Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery. Other images illustrate comfort and security, featuring log cabins nestled into hills or cowboys standing tall and alone on the prairie.

He was married to Grace Barlow in 1931. The marriage produced two daughters, Yvonne and Estell, and two sons, Ross and Norman. Following in her father’s artistic footsteps, Yvonne earned an art degree from the University of Indiana in Bloomington and practiced art as a missionary in Ecuador.

- Ben Nemenoff

Bibliography:

• Barr, Paul E. North Dakota Artists. Grand Forks: University of North Dakota Library, 1954.
• Erickson, Vern. “Inspiration, Lewis and Clark in North Dakota: An Artist’s View.” Bismarck Tribune, 1997.
• McLean County Heritage, McLean County, North Dakota. Washburn: McLean County Historical Society, 1978.