The invention provides electroluminescent (EL) elements, such that a red EL light source, a green EL light source and a blue EL light source emit red color light, green color light, and blue color light, respectively, and are disposed at the rear of liquid crystal display elements. Each EL light source includes an organic EL element in which an organic thin film emits light. Each EL light source has a structure in which an organic luminescent layer is sandwiched between an indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode and a metal electrode which have striped patterns which are orthogonal to each other, and sections (luminescent sections) at which the striped patterns of the ITO electrode and the metal electrode intersect with each other emit light. The luminescent sections are arrayed two-dimensionally on a glass substrate and illuminate the entire display area of the liquid crystal display element.