A liquid crystal layer is formed by filing the space between alignment films formed on two glass substrates, respectively, with a ferroelectric liquid crystal having spontaneous polarization. When the maximum charge amount injected to each pixel by the switching of a switching element, the area of each pixel electrode and the magnitude of the spontaneous polarization of the ferroelectric liquid crystal per unit area are denoted as Q, A, and PS, respectively, the relation 2PS·A>Q is established. A cone angle 2&thgr; (&thgr;: tilt angle) of the ferroelectric liquid crystal is not smaller than 45°. It is possible to use a liquid crystal material having large spontaneous polarization, and a high-speed response is realized even when a low voltage is applied to the liquid crystal material.