Emil Cardinaux was a Swiss painter and poster artist.

Cardinaux, the son of a Bernese businessman, started studying law at the request of his parents, but also took drawing lessons at the Bern art school with Paul Volmar. In 1898 he moved to Munich to continue his studies, where he decided to become a full-time artist. He first took lessons in Ludwig Schmid-Reutte's studio, then he was a student of Franz von Stuck at the art academy. From 1903 he lived again in Bern, in 1911 he finally settled in the studio house built by Otto Ingold in Muri.

Cardinaux was a representative of the “Bern School” led by Ferdinand Hodler, which also included Traugott Senn, Adolf Tièche, Eduard Boss, Ernst Linck, Emil Prochaska (1874–1948) and Max Eugen Brack (1878–1950).

Cardinaux created an extensive body of work in a wide variety of media, he illustrated books, designed mono cards , printed matter and drew caricatures. He painted landscapes on canvas, as wall and glass paintings. Its fame, however, stems from the more than 130 posters that also attracted international attention.