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 Zermatt. 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
SoldZweisimmen, III Internationales Alpines Ski-Rennen, Ski-Club Bern
1905
SoldBern, Schweiz Switzerland Suisse
1906
SoldIIème course de ski à Zweisimmen, Ski-Rennen
1906
SoldBern, Schweiz Switzerland Suisse
1906
SoldSchützen Fest Laupen
1907
CHF 1430.–
Zermatt poster without the text
1908
SoldZermatt, Matterhorn 4505m Schweiz.
1908
SoldZermatt, Matterhorn 4505m Schweiz.
1908
SoldZermatt, Matterhorn 4505m Schweiz.
1908
SoldCoupe Gordon Benett, Courses internationales de Ballons, Zurich
1909
SoldSommer in Graubünden, Schweiz
1909
SoldCoupe Gordon Bennett
1909
SoldMatterhorn
circa 1910
SoldJungfrau-Bahn, Berner Oberland Schweiz
1910
SoldJungfrau-Bahn
1910
SoldZermatt, Matterhorn Cervin
circa 1910
SoldMaskenball, Zürich
1911
CHF 2870.–
Haase Conserven Rorschach.
1914
SoldSwiss National exhibition, Berne, 1914
1914
CHF 970.–
Rhaetian Railway, Grisons, Castle of Tarasp
1914
SoldGothard, Schweiz, SBB
1914
SoldBerna Kraftwagen
1914
SoldExposition Nationale Suisse, Berne
1914
CHF 1900.–
Rhätische Bahn, Graubünden Schweiz
1914
SoldCigarettes Orientales Salomé
1914
SoldMatterhorn
circa 1915
SoldRhätische Bahn, Graubünden Schweiz, Silsersee Oberengadin
1916
SoldBei Kandersteg, Berner Oberland
1916
CHF 2360.–
Automobiles Martini
1916
SoldChemin de Fer Rhétique, Lac de Sils Haute-Engadine, Grisons Suisse
1916
SoldTeppishhaus Schuster & Co, St.Gallen & Zürich
1916
CHF 2650.–
Davos
1918
SoldSt. Moritz
1918
SoldKinder Jacken, B. Fehlbaum Bern
1919
SoldOui pour la Société des Nations
1920
SoldOui à la société des Nations
1920
SoldOui pour la Société des Nations
1920
CHF 45.–
St Moritz, Palace Hotel
1920
SoldSt Moritz, Palace Hotel
1920
CHF 19600.–
Oui pour la Société des Nations
1920
CHF 1560.–
St Moritz, Palace Hotel
1920
SoldLötschberg - Berne
1921
SoldWinter in der Schweiz
1921
SoldL'hiver en Suisse
1921
SoldWinter in der Schweiz
1921
SoldPalace Hotel St.Moritz, Golf
1921
CHF 9700.–
Schweizerische Alpenposten, Simplon Grimsel Furka Oberalp Gotthard Klausen Maloya.
1922
SoldVotation contre l'impôt fédéral direct
1922
SoldSchweizerische Alpenposten
1922
SoldGrisons, L'été dans les Grisons, Suisse
1923
SoldGrisons, Ideal summer in The Grisons, Switzerland
1923
CHF 3900.–
Vulpera Tarasp, Suisse
1923
SoldPro Juventute, Vente de timbres et cartes au profit de l'enfance en âge scolaire
1923
CHF 990.–
Hinterstockensee
1924
SoldChaussures Bally
1924
SoldChaussures Bally
1924
SoldTeppischhaus Schuster & Co, Zürich
1924
SoldJungfrau-Bahn, Berner Oberland Schweiz.
1924
CHF 6370.–
Wengeralpbahn, Berner Oberland, Schweiz
1924
SoldTeppishhaus Schuster & Co, Zürich
1924
CHF 2600.–
Jungfraubahn, Schweiz
1925
SoldIXe Exposition Suisse d'agriculture, sylviculture et d'horticulture 1925
1925
CHF 940.–
Chemin de Fer de la Jungfrau, Oberland Bernois Suisse
1925
SoldBally, Chaussures
1927
SoldChemin de fer de la Jungfrau, Jungfraujoch, 3457m, Suisse
1928
SoldChemin de Fer de la Jungfrau, 3457m Jungfraujoch Suisse
1928
SoldAutocars postaux suisses
1928
SoldJungfraubahn, Berner Oberland, Schweiz
1928
SoldJungfraubahn, Jungfraujoch, 3457m, Schweiz
1928
SoldLa ligne électrique du Simplon, Suisse
1928
SoldPeaceful Switzerland
circa 1928
SoldThe Electric Simplon Line, Switzerland
1928
SoldChaussures de sport Bally
1928
SoldAltweg & Schwabb
circa 1930
SoldJungfrau bahn, Jungfraujoch, 3457m Schweiz
circa 1930
SoldJungfrau-Railway, Bernese Oberland, 3457m, Switzerland
circa 1930
SoldJungfrau-Railway, Jungfraujoch, Bernese Oberland
circa 1930
SoldContre La Politique de la Rue Pour l'Ordre Démocratique, Protection de l'Ordre Public OUI
1934
CHF 1170.–
Bally, Qualitäts-Schuhe
1935
SoldHet Zwitsersche Jaar
1939
SoldL'Année de la Suisse
1939
CHF 760.–
1939 l'Année de la Suisse, Exposition Nationale Suisse à Zürich
1939
CHF 490.–
1939 l'Année de la Suisse, Exposition Nationale Suisse à Zürich
1939
CHF 990.–
L'Anno della Svizzera
1939
CHF 990.–
Die Simplonlinie an den Gestaden des genfersees, Schweiz
1949
SoldLa Ligne du Simplon, sur les rives du Léman
1949
SoldLa Ligne du simplon sur les rives du Léman, Suisse
1949
SoldThe Simplon Line, Along the shore of the Lake of Geneva, Switzerland
1949
SoldLa Linea del Sempione sulle rive del Lemano, Svizzera
1949
SoldLa Ligne du Simplon
1949
Sold