A display device is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the display device includes a light source, a dimming panel and a display panel. The dimming panel includes a dimming area with sub-areas arrayed in a matrix. The dimming panel also controls a transmittance of light from the light source in each of the sub-areas. The display panel includes a display area with pixels arrayed in a matrix and displays an image due to incident light transmitted through the dimming panel thereon. In one example, an optical separation system is arranged between the dimming panel and the display panel. It separates light from the light source into respective wavelength bands. The display panel includes corresponding liquid crystal panels on which the respective wavelength bands are made incident.