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 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...
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Original Vintage Travel Poster Kandersteg Switzerland Carl Moos Alpine Resort
By Carl Moos
Located in London, GB
Original vintage travel poster for the alpine resort of Kandersteg Schweiz Switzerland Suisse in the Bernese Oberland region featuring scenic artwork by the Swiss artist Carl Moos (1...
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Original Vintage Swiss Travel Poster Furka Oberalp Switzerland Herbert Leupin
By Herbert Leupin
Located in London, GB
Original vintage travel poster - Furka-Oberalp Brig Gletsch Andermatt Disentis Switzerland - featuring a scenic alpine view by the Swiss graphic artist Herbert Leupin (1916-1999) dep...
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Original Vintage Art Deco Travel Poster Hotel Schloss Velden Lake Worth Austria
By Hans Wagula
Located in London, GB
Original vintage Art Deco travel poster for the historic Hotel Schloss-Velden Worthersee Karnten Osterreich located on Lake Worth in Carinthia south Austria featuring a stunning desi...
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Original Vintage Travel Poster Evian Les Bains Art Deco Golf PLM France Railway
Located in London, GB
Original vintage Art Deco travel poster issued by the PLM Paris Lyon Mediterranee railway for Evian les Bains The Wonderful Savoy Spa featuring stunning artwork by the French artist ...
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Original Vintage Travel Poster Autriche Austria Alps Mountain Art Deco Schwatzek
Located in London, GB
Original vintage travel poster for Autriche / Austria featuring a striking Art Deco view of the Austrian Alps with hills and a tree in the foreground and...
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Original Chamonix Mont-Blanc vintage travel poster
Located in Spokane, WA
Original vintage travel poster Chamonix Mont-Blanc PLM French travel poster. Very good condition, archival linen backed. Ready to frame. ...
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
Colorful Swiss 1930s Travel Poster by Peter Franz Moos
By Carl Moos
Located in Wiscasset, ME
circa 1931 In very good condition, mounted on linen, B+ overall condition Carl Franz Moos was born in Munich in 1878 and died in Zurich in 1959. He worked as a painter, graphic designer and stage designer. After studying nude and model drawing in Munich, he worked for a short time as an embroidery designer. From 1897 he was an illustrator for the Munich daily press and designed sports and travel postcards. He became a successful poster designer in Munich and a member of the Munich poster...
Original PLM Tourism Poster, Railways, Alps, Mountain Resort, Alpine, Hill, 1932
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Original vintage tourism poster created by Jean Hornung in 1932 to promote the high-altitude resorts of French regions such as the Alps, the Jura, the Auvergne, or the Cévennes, lead...
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DAUPHINE - PARIS-LYON-MEDITERRANE Antique Original Vintage Rail Travel Poster
By Roger Soubie
Located in Chicago, IL
DAUPHINE - CHEMINS DE FER PARIS-LYON-MEDITERRANEE Rare authentic original vintage antique French railroad and travel and tourism poster Artist: Roger Soubie Condition: A- Dimensions: 30.7 x 42.3 in. / 78 x 107.5 cm. Circa: 1925 Linen Backed There are two restored punch holes in the right margin; some minor surface scratches/abrasions; some margin creasing; this wonderful French travel poster should display beautifully once framed. A sweeping Alpine landscape from the Chartreuse massif featuring the Pic de Chamechaude rising in warm orange and pink above dark forested slopes, a small village and country houses nestled in the valley below, and a winding road disappearing into the trees. The color palette is unusual and striking: that pink-to-orange mountain against a pale sky gives it a warmth that sets it apart from the more typical cool-toned Alpine poster...
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Original Vintage Swiss Travel Poster for Central Switzerland
Located in Reading, Berkshire
"Central Switzerland - Anytime Holiday Time" An Exquisite Swiss Travel Colour Photo Lithograph Poster Print from the 1960's Dimensions 102 x 64 cm
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