An optically variable security element for securing valuable articles that viewing-angle-dependently displays a motif having at least one curve depiction that, from a first viewing direction, is visible as an initial curve having two or more connected, non-collinear segments and that, when the security element is tilted about a predetermined axis, splits into the individual segments in that the segments of the initial curve move alternatingly in different directions away from the initial curve. Each of the segments has associated with it one movement segment in the form of a sub-region of an areal motif region, such that, from the first viewing direction, the segments display the initial curve having the connected segments and that, from viewing directions tilted about the predetermined axis, they display curve depictions in which, with increasing tilt angle, the segments lie alternatingly in different directions increasingly further away from the initial curve.