An image forming apparatus includes a light source; an optical shutter unit (11) comprising a pair of parallel substrates respectively having a plurality of scanning electrodes (11a) and a plurality of data electrodes (11b) disposed to intersect with each other to form a matrix electrode structure on their opposite surfaces, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the pair of substrates so as to form a micro­shutter at each intersection of the scanning electrodes and data electrodes; an optical system for forming an image at a desired position with light transmitted through the optical shutter unit; a photosensitive member as a medium for recording the thus formed image; a scanning side drive circuit (12) for applying a scanning voltage signal to the plurality of scanning electrodes (11a) so as to sequentially select at least one scanning electrode in a prescribed cycle; and a data side drive unit (13) for applying data voltage signals to the plurality of data electrodes (11b) in synchronism with said scanning voltage signal. Image data are transferred on the optical shutter unit (11) corresponding to the movement of the photosensitive member so as to move an image formed thereby on the photosensitive member while keeping the relative position of the image with respect to the photosensitive member.