About
Gnome (Гном) is a 3D model of a gnome that grew popular online in Russia for its low render quality and shocked expression.
Origin
On October 31, 2004, user “Asci” of the Russian game development site GameDev.ru posted a topic to the site’s forums named “Зацените Гнома.” (Check out the gnome). In the thread, Asci posted images of a low-polygon gnome model that he made.[1] Soon after posting, the Gnome became a running joke for the users of the website, who found its low-quality shocked facial expression hilarious.
Spread
Over the next decade, the original Gnome thread grew to over 500 pages of responses, with occasional activity spanning into 2015.[2] A page for Gnome was created on the Russian version of the Lurkmore Wiki in 2009.[3] A website for Gnome was created, which contains articles and images based off Gnome; most of it, however, has become unavailable.[4] Gnome has also been referenced in several Russian print publications, such as Gameland, as seen below.
Example Images
Search Interest
References
[1]GameDev.ru – Зацените Гнома.
[2]GameDev.ru – Зацените Гнома.