Swiss painter and illustrator Emil Cardinaux was a pioneer of poster design, credited with creating the world’s first modern tourism poster in 1908. Characterized by his use of muted colors and simple yet powerful imagery, Cardinaux’s designs of more than 130 posters captured the world’s attention during the early 20th century and remain highly coveted by art dealers and collectors today.
Born in 1877, Cardinaux was encouraged by his parents to study law at the University of Bern before he turned his attention toward art, taking drawing lessons at the Berner Kunstschule under artist Paul Volmar. In 1898, he moved to Munich to continue his art studies, attending the Akademie der Bildenden Künste München as a student of painter Franz von Stuck.
Following his studies, Cardinaux traveled extensively throughout France, Italy and the Netherlands before returning to Bern in 1903 to focus on landscape painting.
In 1908, Cardinaux was commissioned by the Swiss government to design a promotional poster depicting the country’s famous Matterhorn mountain and Zermatt ski area. Inspired by the stark, symbolist paintings and prints of Swiss artist Ferdinand Hodler, Cardinaux captured the mountain peak in its simplest form, overlooking a shadow-soaked valley.
Cardinaux’s streamlined Jugendstil style was a signature of many of his lithographic posters and landscape prints. He also designed materials for companies, including Tobler Schokolade (makers of Toblerone), the Bern truck factory and Bally shoes.
Throughout his career, Cardinaux created an extensive array of works, such as book illustrations, mono-card designs, printed material, landscape paintings and caricature drawings. However, his iconic posters are most sought after by Art Nouveau and Art Deco collectors and aficionados.
On 1stDibs, find a range of Emil Cardinaux prints and paintings.
Original Antique Swiss Travel Poster Palace Hotel St Moritz Golf Emil Cardinaux
By Emile Cardinaux
Located in London, GB
Original antique travel poster for the Palace Hotel St. Moritz Switzerland featuring a stunning design by the notable Swiss artist Emil Cardinaux (1877-1936) depicting guests enjoyin...
Paper
Original Antique Swiss Winter Travel Poster Palace Hotel St Moritz Switzerland
By Emile Cardinaux
Located in London, GB
Original antique winter travel poster for the Palace Hotel St. Moritz Switzerland featuring a stunning design by the notable Swiss artist Emil Cardinaux (1877-1936) depicting a group...
Paper
Chemin De Fer Rhetique
By Emile Cardinaux
Located in New York, NY
Chemin De Fer Rhetique, Grisons, Suisse. Chateau De Tarasp. 1913. Color lithograph Cardinaux created an extensive work of different media, he illu...
Lithograph
Original Jungfrau Railway Bernese Oberland vintage 1913 poster
By Emile Cardinaux
Located in Spokane, WA
The original vintage poster by Emil Cardinaux for the Jungfrau Railway in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland, is a classic example of early 20th-century travel advertising. Emil Cardi...
Lithograph
1928 Original Jungfrau Railway poster, created by Émile Cardinaux
By Emile Cardinaux
Located in PARIS, FR
The original Jungfrau Railway poster, created by Swiss artist Émile Cardinaux in 1928, is a masterpiece of Swiss design. Cardinaux, who was born in Swi...
Linen, Paper, Lithograph
Original Vintage Poster Teppichhaus Schuster St Gallen & Zurich Orient Carpets
By Emile Cardinaux
Located in London, GB
Original vintage carpet advertising poster for Teppichhaus Schuster & Co St Gallen & Zurich Switzerland featuring an Oriental style design depicting a lady playing music on a stringed instrument and a man reclining...
Paper
Jungfubahn
By Emile Cardinaux
Located in New York, NY
Cardinaux, Emil. Jungfubahn 1928. Color lithograph. 50 1/4 x 35 1/2" [large format]. Cardinaux’s posters were very influential on the way Switzerland saw and represented itself in...
Lithograph
$685
H 33 in W 23 in D 0.05 in
Original "C'est un Hurricane" vintage bicycle pin-up style poster
Located in Spokane, WA
Original Hurricane Bicycle vintage poster. Archivally linen backed in mint condition 72-year-old poster, ready to frame. This is an original mid-century modern vintage Hurricane...
Lithograph
$1,983
H 40.16 in W 24.81 in D 0.04 in
Original Vintage Swiss Travel Poster, Interlaken, Mountains and Ski, 1950
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Original Vintage Poster-Suisse-Interlaken-Montagne-Ski, c.1950 Poster to promote tourism in the city of Interlaken during the summer period (April to October). Additional detai...
Paper
$544Sale Price|20% Off
H 28.94 in W 18.71 in D 0.04 in
Original Vintage Poster by Bernard Buffet May 1958 Original Vintage Poster
By Bernard Buffet
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
Original vintage poster by Bernard Buffet May 1958.
Paper
1936 Marihuana Original Vintage Poster
Located in Winchester, GB
This stunning poster was created in 1936 to promote Dwain Esper's exploitation film "Marihuana - The Weed With Roots in Hell". The film, which has gone on to become a cult classic, c...
Linen, Paper
$898
H 10.24 in W 7.87 in
Umberto Brunelleschi, Untitled, from The Tales of Boccaccio, 1934 (after)
By Umberto Brunelleschi
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph and pochoir after Umberto Brunelleschi (1879–1949), titled Sans titre (Untitled), originates from the celebrated album Les contes de Boccace (The Tales of B...
Stencil, Lithograph
$718Sale Price|20% Off
H 10.24 in W 7.87 in
Umberto Brunelleschi, Untitled, from The Tales of Boccaccio, 1934 (after)
By Umberto Brunelleschi
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph and pochoir after Umberto Brunelleschi (1879–1949), titled Sans titre (Untitled), originates from the celebrated album Les contes de Boccace (The Tales of B...
Lithograph, Stencil
$4,239
H 19 in W 21.25 in D 1.5 in
Lithograph of American rural life timeless and romantic
By Thomas Hart Benton
Located in London, GB
A fine impression of this very popular image with full margins (smaller on top and bottom) published by Associated American Artists.
Lithograph
$4,239
H 19 in W 21.5 in D 1.5 in
Lithograph of American rural life timeless and romantic countryside monochrome
By Thomas Hart Benton
Located in London, GB
A fine impression with good margins published by Associated American Artists.
Lithograph
$718Sale Price|20% Off
H 10.24 in W 7.87 in
Umberto Brunelleschi, Untitled, from The Tales of Boccaccio, 1934 (after)
By Umberto Brunelleschi
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph and pochoir after Umberto Brunelleschi (1879–1949), titled Sans titre (Untitled), originates from the celebrated album Les contes de Boccace (The Tales of B...
Lithograph, Stencil
$718Sale Price|20% Off
H 10.24 in W 7.87 in
Umberto Brunelleschi, Untitled, from The Tales of Boccaccio, 1934 (after)
By Umberto Brunelleschi
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph and pochoir after Umberto Brunelleschi (1879–1949), titled Sans titre (Untitled), originates from the celebrated album Les contes de Boccace (The Tales of B...
Stencil, Lithograph
$718Sale Price|20% Off
H 10.24 in W 7.87 in
Umberto Brunelleschi, Untitled, from The Tales of Boccaccio, 1934 (after)
By Umberto Brunelleschi
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph and pochoir after Umberto Brunelleschi (1879–1949), titled Sans titre (Untitled), originates from the celebrated album Les contes de Boccace (The Tales of B...
Lithograph, Stencil
Abstract - Surrealist Lithograph
Located in Houston, TX
Surreal lithograph with light lavender and blue colors, 1982. Titled and numbered on lower left and signed lower right in pencil. Displayed on a white mat with a gold border and fi...
Paper, Lithograph
Sold
H 49.22 in W 35.44 in D 0.04 in
Original Antique Winter Travel Poster Palace Hotel St Moritz Switzerland
By Emile Cardinaux
Located in London, GB
Original antique winter travel poster for the Palace Hotel St. Moritz Switzerland featuring a stunning design by the notable Swiss artist Emil Cardinaux (1877-1936) depicting a group...
Paper
Sold
H 8.27 in W 5.52 in
Circa 1925 Original poster made by Emil Cardinaux - Zermatt Switzerland
By Emile Cardinaux
Located in PARIS, FR
Original poster made by Emil Cardinaux 🇨🇭 (1877-1936), one of the most important founders of the poster in Switzerland. In 1908, he was commissioned by the Swiss government to cre...
Linen, Paper, Lithograph
Sold
H 27.17 in W 27.76 in
Emil Cardinaux (1877-1936) - Fine Framed 1931 Oil, The Train Tracks
By Emile Cardinaux
Located in Corsham, GB
Delighted to present a very fine landscape study by the Swiss painter Emil Cardinaux. Known for his wonderful tourist posters and graphic designs, this unusual study still reflects h...
Oil
Sold
H 50.4 in W 35.83 in D 0.04 in
Original Vintage Poster Schweizerische Bundesbahnen Swiss Federal Railway Travel
By Emile Cardinaux
Located in London, GB
Original vintage railway travel advertising poster for Swiss Federal Railways / Schweizerische Bundesbahnen - featuring stunning artwork by Emil Cardinaux (1877-1936) depicting a scenic view of a red electric train...
Paper
Sold
H 50.4 in W 36.03 in D 0.04 in
Rare Original Antique Winter Sport Ski Travel Poster for St. Moritz Switzerland
By Emile Cardinaux
Located in London, GB
Rare original antique winter sport travel poster for St. Moritz in Switzerland, one of the early and most sought after winter sports posters, featuring ...
Paper