Emil CARDINAUX
(1877 – 1936)
Emil Cardinaux, born in Bern in 1877, is one of the most important founders of the art of posters in Switzerland. After studying fine art in Munich, Cardinaux moved permanently in Switzerland and worked as a landscape painter.
In 1908, Emil Cardinaux designed the first "modern" tourism poster.
The Swiss government commissioned him to design a poster to promote the Matterhorn and the Zermatt ski area. Inspired by the paintings of Ferdinand Hodler, he freed the tourist poster from all realistic constraints and created a new, simpler and more dynamic graphic language. A monument to the glory of the Matterhorn, the image is reduced to its simplest expression, with no excess detail to hide the aesthetic value of its subtle play of colours, achieved through the exceptional quality of the lithographic printing process. A luminous, flamboyant Matterhorn overlooks a valley plunged into shadow.
This avant-garde poster revolutionised the representation of the tourist poster, influencing many Swiss artists and graphic designers and making Emil Cardinaux known internationally.
In addition to the Swiss tourist posters, Emil Cardinaux collaborated among others for the shoe brand "Bally" (1920), the chocolates "Villars" and "Tobler" (Toblerone).
Chocolat de Villars, Fribourg
1905
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Zweisimmen, III Internationales Alpines Ski-Rennen, Ski-Club Bern
1905
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Bern, Schweiz Switzerland Suisse
1906
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IIème course de ski à Zweisimmen, Ski-Rennen
1906
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Bern, Schweiz Switzerland Suisse
1906
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Schützen Fest Laupen
1907
CHF 1430.–
Zermatt, Matterhorn 4505m Schweiz.
1908
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Zermatt poster without the text
1908
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Coupe Gordon Benett, Courses internationales de Ballons, Zurich
1909
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Sommer in Graubünden, Schweiz
1909
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Coupe Gordon Bennett
1909
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Matterhorn
circa 1910
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Jungfrau-Bahn, Berner Oberland Schweiz
1910
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Jungfrau-Bahn
1910
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Zermatt, Matterhorn Cervin
circa 1910
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Maskenball, Zürich
1911
CHF 2870.–
Swiss National exhibition, Berne, 1914
1914
CHF 970.–
Cigarettes Orientales Salomé
1914
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Berna Kraftwagen
1914
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Rhaetian Railway, Grisons, Castle of Tarasp
1914
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Rhätische Bahn, Graubünden Schweiz
1914
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Exposition Nationale Suisse, Berne
1914
CHF 1900.–
Gothard, Schweiz, SBB
1914
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Haase Conserven Rorschach.
1914
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Matterhorn
circa 1915
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Bei Kandersteg, Berner Oberland
1916
CHF 2360.–
Chemin de Fer Rhétique, Lac de Sils Haute-Engadine, Grisons Suisse
1916
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Automobiles Martini
1916
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Teppishhaus Schuster & Co, St.Gallen & Zürich
1916
CHF 2650.–
Rhätische Bahn, Graubünden Schweiz, Silsersee Oberengadin
1916
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Davos
1918
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St. Moritz
1918
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Kinder Jacken, B. Fehlbaum Bern
1919
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St Moritz, Palace Hotel
1920
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Oui pour la Société des Nations
1920
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Oui pour la Société des Nations
1920
CHF 2200.–
St Moritz, Palace Hotel
1920
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St Moritz, Palace Hotel
1920
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Oui à la société des Nations
1920
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Winter in der Schweiz
1921
CHF 15800.–
Palace Hotel St.Moritz, Golf
1921
CHF 9850.–
Winter in der Schweiz
1921
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Lötschberg - Berne
1921
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Schweizerische Alpenposten
1922
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Schweizerische Alpenposten, Simplon Grimsel Furka Oberalp Gotthard Klausen Maloya.
1922
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Votation contre l'impôt fédéral direct
1922
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Grisons, L'été dans les Grisons, Suisse
1923
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Pro Juventute, Vente de timbres et cartes au profit de l'enfance en âge scolaire
1923
CHF 990.–
Vulpera Tarasp, Suisse
1923
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Grisons, Ideal summer in The Grisons, Switzerland
1923
CHF 3900.–
Wengeralpbahn, Berner Oberland, Schweiz
1924
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Jungfrau-Bahn, Berner Oberland Schweiz.
1924
CHF 6370.–
Hinterstockensee
1924
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Teppishhaus Schuster & Co, Zürich
1924
CHF 2600.–
Teppischhaus Schuster & Co, Zürich
1924
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Chaussures Bally
1924
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Jungfraubahn, Schweiz
1925
CHF 7600.–
IXe Exposition Suisse d'agriculture, sylviculture et d'horticulture 1925
1925
CHF 940.–
Chemin de Fer de la Jungfrau, Oberland Bernois Suisse
1925
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Bally, Chaussures
1927
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Autocars postaux suisses
1928
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Jungfraubahn, Berner Oberland, Schweiz
1928
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The Electric Simplon Line, Switzerland
1928
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Chemin de fer de la Jungfrau, Jungfraujoch, 3457m, Suisse
1928
CHF 5460.–
Chaussures de sport Bally
1928
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Chemin de Fer de la Jungfrau, 3457m Jungfraujoch Suisse
1928
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Peaceful Switzerland
circa 1928
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Jungfraubahn, Jungfraujoch, 3457m, Schweiz
1928
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La ligne électrique du Simplon, Suisse
1928
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Jungfrau-Railway, Jungfraujoch, Bernese Oberland
circa 1930
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Jungfrau bahn, Jungfraujoch, 3457m Schweiz
circa 1930
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Jungfrau-Railway, Bernese Oberland, 3457m, Switzerland
circa 1930
CHF 5260.–
Altweg & Schwabb
circa 1930
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Contre La Politique de la Rue Pour l'Ordre Démocratique, Protection de l'Ordre Public OUI
1934
CHF 1170.–
Bally, Qualitäts-Schuhe
1935
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1939 l'Année de la Suisse, Exposition Nationale Suisse à Zürich
1939
CHF 990.–
L'Année de la Suisse
1939
CHF 760.–
1939 l'Année de la Suisse, Exposition Nationale Suisse à Zürich
1939
CHF 490.–
L'Anno della Svizzera
1939
CHF 990.–
Het Zwitsersche Jaar
1939
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The Simplon Line, Along the shore of the Lake of Geneva, Switzerland
1949
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La Ligne du Simplon, sur les rives du Léman
1949
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La Ligne du simplon sur les rives du Léman, Suisse
1949
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La Linea del Sempione sulle rive del Lemano, Svizzera
1949
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Die Simplonlinie an den Gestaden des genfersees, Schweiz
1949
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