Optical control element

An optical control element according to the invention includes a first polarizer a that is provided on a display screen side of a display apparatus and has a polarization absorption axis 1 set in a horizontal direction, a second polarizer a' that is provided on a viewer side and has a polarization absorption axis 1' set in the horizontal direction or a direction that forms a predetermined angle with the horizontal direction, and at least one retardation film b disposed between the first polarizer a and the second polarizer a'.