in theory ...

The "model" sits in the centre of a closed square box.
One side of the box, in this case the rear, is taken as the Drawing Sheet.
All the other sides then "hinge out" from this side to form a flat plane of drawing views.
  
In the case of 1st Angle Projection (traditionally the British method) the view is projected through the model
onto the "box side" facing the viewer (behind the model) as shown with face 'A' below, further views are

generated in exactly the same manner for the other faces of the model. 

This means that the view is on the opposite side of the model to the face it represents. 

From the Drawing Sheet ...

The top side hinges up.

The bottom side hinges down

.
The left hand side hinges to the left.

The front and right hand sides hinge
together to the right.

in practice ...

A typical three view representation of the above model using 1st angle projection.