This photograph, taken through the glass walls looking west of the Sydney Opera House with the curve of the Harbour Bridge as background, was taken by the Sydney photographer, Jozef Vissel in c.1985.

Vissel, born 1947, has worked as a commercial photographer since his arrival in Sydney from Holland and England in 1960. He worked in commercial photography and the film industry before establishing his own studio and visually documented many aspects of Jorn Utzon and the Opera House project.

Vissel is probably best known for his 1965 'multi-exposure hand' photo of Jorn Utzon, often mistakenly described as the 'magician' photo (Powerhouse Museum number 2007/25/1). The image has become part of the dramatic story of Utzon and the Opera House and was in fact taken just prior to Utzon's enforced withdrawal from the project in February 1966.

Anne Watson, Curator 2007

This photograph was taken by Jozef Vissel at the Sydney Opera House, c. 1985.

Photograph, 'Opera House from inside', black and white, paper, photographed by Jozef Vissel, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, c. 1985

A black and white silver gelatin photograph printed on matt paper taken through the glass walls of the western foyer of the Sydney Opera House. Depicting a group of people standing near the water and the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background. Inscription on the reverse.

Photographed: Vissel, Jozef; Sydney Opera House; 1980 - 1990

Inscribed on reverse in black ink; 'OPERA HOUSE / FROM INSIDE / photo: JOZEF VISSEL / tel: 94276931'.

2007/25/2

1980 - 1990

202 mm