Liquid developing method and liquid developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a latent image carrying member via a toner dispersed in a carrier liquid. An electrostatic latent image is formed on an image carrying surface, a liquid developer layer having a bottom layer of toner particles as the main constituent and a top layer of liquid carrier as the main constituent is formed on a developer holding surface and the electrostatic image is contacted with the top layer without substantially contacting the bottom layer with the image carrying surface. A member for maintaining a clearance between an image carrying member and a developer holding member at a predetermined space in which the top layer contacts with the electrostatic latent image without contacting the bottom layer to the image carrying member is provided.