A light reflection and diffraction element for enhancing the contrast of an image display device. In an off state of the element, a portion exhibiting a cyclic structure for diffracting incident light in a region where reflective members having reflection surfaces are aligned is reduced by preventing the generation of unrequired diffracted light. For example, by covering connection regions of the ribbon reflective members by light shielding masks, incident light is shielded. Preferably, any uneven state of the reflection surfaces of the ribbon reflective members is controlled, and a correlation length is made small.