In a display device, an image display panel updates an image in a frame cycle including an image scanning period and a vertical blanking period, a light modulation layer is disposed at a back of the panel and switched to a scattering or transmission state depending on an electric field applied, a light source emits light which enters the light modulation layer from its side and travels therethrough, electrodes are formed according to divided areas of the light modulation layer arranged in a direction of the light and apply the electric field to the light modulation layer, and a controller drives the electrodes in synchronization with image scanning to switch the divided areas to the scattering state in order during the image scanning period, and drives the electrodes according to distances from the side to control the scattering state on the individual divided areas during the vertical blanking period.