EMIL CARDINAUX (1877-1936) SCHWEIZERISCHE BUNDESBAHNEN. 1928.
50 1/4x36 inches, 127 1/2x91 1/2 cm. Wolfsberg, Zurich.
Condition B+: repaired tears, minor restoration and overpainting in margins; vertical and horizontal folds.
Cardinaux studied painting with Germany's Franz von Stuck, and also worked in Paris before returning to Switzerland where he became one of the founding fathers of Swiss poster art. He rose to national (and international) attention in 1908 with his famous poster for Zermatt, with his bold depiction of the Matterhorn, using flat colors and broad outlining, which became a landmark in Swiss graphic design. He designed posters for the men's store PKZ and other Swiss products and services, but he is best known for his travel posters, with their evocative, painterly, almost impressionistic style. Here, an electric train on the Simplon Line is shown passing the Chateau du Chillon on Lake Geneva. This is the rare large format. Several different text and language variations exist for this image in the smaller size. Cardinaux 117.