Daniel Hopfer: Morris Dancers (15th-16th century)

(Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA)

An engraving by the German artist Daniel Hopfer (1470-1536). A Morris Dance (or 'Moriskentanz' in German) is a type of folk dance. The name comes from the word "Moorish dance" (it is not known why the dance was called that) which was an exotic and energetic dance with the dancers usually wearing bell pads on their shins. These dancers are standing around a man who is dressed as a woman who has a stick with sausages and beer. Print from late 15th and early 16th century.