An optical modulation device, such as a ferroelectric liquid crystal device, comprises a matrix of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, pixels on each row being electrically connected to a scanning electrode and pixels on each column being electrically connected to a signal electrode. The optical modulation device is driven by a method comprising, in a scanning selection period applying a scanning selection signal to a selected scanning electrode, the scanning selection signal comprising plural voltage levels including a maximum value .vertline.Vs.max.vertline. in terms of an absolute value with respect to the voltage level of a non-selected scanning electrode, and applying in phase with the scanning selection signal a voltage signal comprising plural voltage levels to a signal electrode so as to apply to a pixel on the selected scanning electrode plural pulse voltages including a maximum value voltage .vertline.Vmax.vertline. and a minimum pulse voltage .vertline.Vmin.vertline. respectively in terms of an absolute value, satisfying the relationship of:.vertline.Vmax.vertline.-.vertline.Vmin.vertline..ltoreq..vertline.Vs.max.vertline..