Parmigianino's Self Portrait in a Convex Mirror offers audiences a manneristic twist on self portraiture. Parmigianino explores the correlation between big P and little p perspective in this piece. He demonstrates that by altering one's visual perspective an artist can also influence the viewers' interpretations. The way in which the subject's stare invites viewers into his visual autobiography is starkly contrasted by the physical form in which the painting itself is rendered. Despite the subject being the focus of the painting, the distortion of visual perspective evokes a sense of disconnect which dissuades the viewer from "entering" the piece.

While a traditional self portrait may depict what the artist himself/herself is trying to convey, the distorted perspective provided by the convex mirror resembles what one might see through a looking glass. Rather than simply revealing himself, Parmigianino distorts proportions to offer an alternative perspective of reality and lets the viewer scrutinize him from a distance.