The National Gallery of Art acquired a collection of chalcographic prints from the United States Library of Congress in 1986. The collection includes engravings and etchings pulled in the early 20th century from original 17th-19th-century copper and steel-faced plates, as well as 19th century photogravures and chromolithographs. Most are considered 'reproductive' prints after the original compositions of 16th-19th century European painters and were produced by 'chalcographic' institutions (i.e. insitutions dedicated to the distribution of reproductive prints to the public for educational and commercial purposes).