A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of oppositely disposed substrates having opposing inner surfaces and opposing electrodes thereon, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal disposed between the opposing electrodes. The liquid crystal device has an effective optical modulation region (2) and a peripheral region (3) outside the effective optical modulation region. In the device, liquid crystal molecules in the peripheral region have a pretilt angle (α₂) which is larger than a pretilt angle (α₁) of liquid crystal molecules in the effective optical modulation region. As a result, a local pressure irregularity or a cell thickness change caused by a liquid crystal molecular movement along an extension of the device is effectively suppressed.