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The Gift Guides

Gifts for the person who stops at every painting

The best gift for an art lover is a painting they love that they get to carry every day, not one more print for a wall that's already full. Our totes put Van Gogh, Monet, Vermeer and William Morris on a canvas bag that zips shut, holds a 16 inch laptop and has pockets inside.

Pick the painting, we'll tell you the story.

Five Tote Library painting totes hanging on a wooden rail, including Girl with a Pearl Earring and Water Lilies

Who are you buying for?

Van Gogh Starry Night canvas tote bag standing on a wooden stool
The Starry Night, painting by Vincent van Gogh, 1889
the real one, 1889

No. 1

The Starry Night

for the friend with a Van Gogh mug who deserves an upgrade

Van Gogh painted it in June 1889, based on the view from his window at the asylum in Saint-Rémy, adding the village from memory. It became the most famous night sky in art.

Vincent van GoghThe Starry Night, 1889
Museum of Modern Art, New York

Monet Water Lilies canvas tote bag on a white table with headphones
One of Claude Monet's Water Lilies paintings, 1916
one of about 250

No. 2

Water Lilies

for the one who would rather be in the garden

Monet built his own pond at Giverny and came back to it for nearly thirty years, painting it around 250 times, even as his eyesight failed. Soft greens and blues that go with everything.

Claude MonetWater Lilies series, about 1897 to 1926
Painted at Giverny, France

Vermeer Girl with a Pearl Earring canvas tote bag laid flat with a water bottle, scrunchie and camera
Girl with a Pearl Earring, painting by Johannes Vermeer, about 1665
the real one, about 1665

No. 3

Girl with a Pearl Earring

for the friend who plans trips around museums

Painted around 1665. Nobody knows who she was, which is half the reason people still stop in front of her.

Johannes VermeerGirl with a Pearl Earring, about 1665
Mauritshuis, The Hague

Monet Impression, Sunrise canvas tote bag standing on a wooden stool
Impression, Sunrise, painting by Claude Monet, 1872
the real one, 1872

No. 4

Impression, Sunrise

for the art teacher with a story to tell

The 1872 painting of Le Havre harbour that gave Impressionism its name, after a critic used the title to mock the whole group. A story about being laughed at and winning anyway.

Claude MonetImpression, Sunrise, 1872
Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris

Van Gogh Sunflowers canvas tote bag beside a bouquet of real sunflowers and books
Sunflowers, painting by Vincent van Gogh, 1888, Munich version
the real one, 1888

No. 5

Sunflowers

for the person who makes grey days better

Van Gogh painted his sunflowers in Arles in 1888 to decorate the room of his friend Gauguin. Bright, happy, and the easiest way to improve a commute.

Vincent van GoghSunflowers, 1888
Bavarian State Painting Collections, Munich

Van Gogh Almond Blossom canvas tote bag laid flat on white sheets with books
Almond Blossom, painting by Vincent van Gogh, 1890
the real one, 1890

No. 6

Almond Blossom

for a new mom or a spring birthday

Painted in 1890 as a gift for his newborn nephew, so it was a present from the very start. Calm blue, soft blossom.

Vincent van GoghAlmond Blossom, 1890
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

Monet's water lily pond at Giverny, wide painting from 1919
Monet's pond at Giverny, painted in 1919
Botticelli Birth of Venus canvas tote bag laid flat with a notebook and camera
The Birth of Venus, painting by Sandro Botticelli, about 1485
the real one, about 1485

No. 7

The Birth of Venus

for the one still talking about Italy

The Renaissance classic everyone recognizes, and the reason so many people queue at the Uffizi.

Sandro BotticelliThe Birth of Venus, about 1485
Uffizi Gallery, Florence

Monet Japanese bridge canvas tote bag laid flat on white sheets
Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies, painting by Claude Monet, 1899
the real one, 1899

No. 8

Lilies Pond

for the Monet fan who already owns Water Lilies

Monet's green footbridge at Giverny, inspired by the Japanese prints he collected and hung all over his house.

Claude MonetBridge over a Pond of Water Lilies, 1899
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

William Morris Strawberry Thief canvas tote bag standing on a wooden stool
Strawberry Thief, printed textile designed by William Morris, 1883
the original pattern

No. 9

Strawberry Thief

for the pattern lover and the gardener

Morris designed this pattern in 1883 after watching thrushes steal strawberries in his garden.

William MorrisStrawberry Thief, designed 1883
Printed cotton textile, England

Degas The Dance Class canvas tote bag laid flat with headphones and a water bottle
The Ballet Class, painting by Edgar Degas, about 1874
the real one

No. 10

The Dance Class

for the dancer, or the parent at every recital

Degas painted ballet dancers more than almost any other subject, in hundreds of works. This is one of the best known.

Edgar DegasThe Ballet Class, about 1874
Musée d'Orsay, Paris

Alphonse Mucha Zodiac canvas tote bag standing on a wooden stool
Zodiac, lithograph by Alphonse Mucha, 1896
the original, 1896

No. 11

La Plume

for the friend with a vintage-poster habit

Mucha's Zodiac, from 1896, became the calendar image of the Paris art magazine La Plume. Flowing hair, gold detail, peak Art Nouveau.

Alphonse MuchaZodiac, 1896
Color lithograph, Paris

Van Gogh Bedroom in Arles canvas tote bag held in front of the body by both straps
The Bedroom, painting by Vincent van Gogh, 1888
the real one, 1888

No. 12

Bedroom in Arles

for the homebody, or someone in their first place

His own bedroom in the Yellow House, painted in October 1888. When this first version was water-damaged, he painted it twice more.

Vincent van GoghThe Bedroom, 1888
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

Open canvas tote showing the inside zip pocket, compartments and key holder

Why a tote beats most art gifts

Most art gifts end up on a shelf. A tote gets used.

  • Zip-top closure so nothing falls out on the train.
  • Pockets inside for phone, cards and keys, plus a long key holder and a bottle holder.
  • Room for a 16 inch laptop, books, a sketchbook and lunch.
  • 100% cotton canvas with reinforced X stitching on the straps.
  • 36 x 36 x 10 cm (14 x 14 x 4 in), 350 g.

Add the Tote Base. This slim insert keeps the bottom flat so the tote stands up on its own and holds its shape, even with a laptop inside. See the Tote Base.

Out in the real world

Two friends seen from behind, one carrying a Starry Night tote
The Starry Night, with friends
Person seen from behind in a doorway carrying a Birth of Venus tote
The Birth of Venus, on the way out
Person with a bicycle carrying a Sunflowers tote
Sunflowers, on the bike

Small add-ons and stocking stuffers

Frequently asked questions

What do you get someone who loves art?

Something from a painting they already love that they can use every day. A tote with that painting on it gets carried to work, class and the museum, while posters and prints compete for wall space. Match the artist to the person: Van Gogh for big color, Monet for calm, Vermeer or Botticelli for the museum lover.

What is a good gift for an art teacher?

A sturdy tote they can carry books and a laptop in, with a painting they can talk about in class. The Starry Night and Monet's Impression, Sunrise both come with stories students remember. Our totes fit a 16 inch laptop and have inside pockets for markers, keys and phone.

Are these good gifts for museum lovers?

Yes. These are famous works held by major museums, including MoMA, the Mauritshuis, the Uffizi and the Musée Marmottan Monet, so they recognize them straight away. Ours zip shut and have pockets inside.

Will it fit a laptop?

Yes, up to a 16 inch MacBook Pro. The bag is 36 x 36 x 10 cm (14 x 14 x 4 in).

How much do they cost?

The current price is on each product page, and shipping is free over the amount shown in your cart.

When do I need to order for Christmas?

Delivery times depend on the country. Check shipping times by country and order a few days before the date shown.

Does the tote stand up on its own?

With the Tote Base it does. It is a slim insert that sits in the bottom, keeps the bag flat and structured, and supports laptops and bottles. It slides in and out easily.

Can I return it if they don't like it?

Yes. See our returns policy for the details.

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