What’s a kobold? Originally a mischievous sprite from German mythology/folklore, dating back to at least 1200 AD. Usually invisible, with the ability to appear as small humanoids, animals, fire, and candles. The element “cobalt” is named after these creatures, as ancient miners blamed them for the toxic ore’s presence.
You may recognize kobolds from fantasy settings like Dungeons & Dragons and Warcraft. Their ethereal shapeshifting nature was abandoned in favor of reptilian, goblinoid, and ratlike forms. Subtle folklore tradition can be found in the Warcraft kobolds, with their candle obsession and mining gear. There’s no “wrong” way to draw a kobold, but over time the reptilian form has become dominant.
The past few years have seen an explosion of kobold art, with a new aesthetic shift. Once loathsome monsters in a D&D tome, the kobold has become increasingly anthropomorphized, intelligent, and attractive.
(Artists sampled in Contemporary Internet Kobolds, from left to right: w4g4/ponqo, EC Major, SorcerusHorserus)