To write about the work of Maria van Elk, at present exhibited at the Free University Amsterdam, results readily in a description of the technique used by her. This is because the work refers scale 1:1 to reality. Her work is sober and graphically constructed from abstract geometrical forms.
She presents her work under the title 'Scale 1:1', which indicates that it is no more than you can see Van Elk is preoccupied with the examination of the form and the activity of the creative process. A number of her drawings in her book Maria van Elk, drawing 1973-1980 consist only of a simple and frail line. Endlessly she varies the drawing of lines and explores this way the different effects of hard and soft pencils in the process of shading.
In 1981 she produced a series of lithographies which were exhibited in the museum Fodor, Amsterdam. A circle was printed 18 times lithographically on wrinkled paper. The spread out showed  different forms consisting  of dissimilar circle segments. To the regular form of a circle drawn with a compass, Van Elk added a personal turn. She stated that this work originated from an attempt to “break through logical symmetry”
This definition could apply also to a number of her other works. The exhibition shows, among other things, four oil paint drawings. Trapezoid forms of monochrome coloured oil chalk Because layers of oil chalk are mixed on top of each other, the paper shows a granular structure. This vivid coarseness of the paper forms a contrast with the straight contours. The plane is surrounded by folds without an apparent set-up. The logical symmetry is put to the hand of Van Elk.
Of these wonderful drawings a larger series is exhibited at the Lithographic Printing Office Amsterdam. A lot of work of Van Elk is printed by Rento Brattings from this lithographic printing office. Also the woodprints at the Free University exhibition were printed in this office. Prominent are three monumental works each consisting of four woodprints. Geometrical compositions of which the straightness is broken by the wavy pattern of the woodgrain.
Pencil, chalk, a piece of wood. With scarce resources and a limited number of forms Maria van Elk creates her very personal images.

Iris Dik in 1986 as a result of the exhibition at the Exposorium of the Free University Amsterdam and at the Lithographic Printing Office Amsterdam.
Published in the magazine Ad Valvas no. 13, page 11 (November 14, 1986)