An optically anisotropic layer comprising a polymer and a compound having a mesogen skeleton whose orientation state is optionally fixed, wherein
- the polymer has a property such that a film of the polymer that is formed by a coating method using a solution of the polymer satisfies nz(P)>nx(P)≥ny(P), wherein nx(P) is a refractive index in a direction which, among in-plane directions of the film, gives a maximum refractive index, ny(P) is a refractive index in a direction which is perpendicular to the direction of nx(P) among the in-plane directions of the film, and nz(P) a refractive index in a thickness direction of the film,
- the compound having a mesogen skeleton is at least one selected from the group consisting of a first compound that exhibits liquid crystal property and also exhibits, when homogeneously oriented, an in-plane retardation with reverse wavelength distribution;
- and a second compound that does not solely exhibit liquid crystal property,
- the second compound has a property such that a mixture of the second compound with an evaluator liquid crystal compound exhibits liquid crystal property, and, in a case where the mixture is homogeneously oriented, the second compound exhibits an in-plane retardation with reverse wavelength distribution, wherein the evaluator liquid crystal compound is a compound that exhibits an in-plane retardation with forward wavelength distribution in a case where the compound is homogeneously orientated, and wherein the mixture is a mixture obtained by mixing the second compound with the evaluator liquid crystal compound at at least any one ratio in a range of the second compound being 30 parts by weight to 70 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of a total of the evaluator liquid crystal compound and the second compound,
- a refractive index nx(A) in a direction which, among in-plane directions of the optically anisotropic layer, gives a maximum refractive index, a refractive index ny(A) in a direction which is perpendicular to the direction of nx(A) among the in-plane directions of the optically anisotropic layer, and a refractive index nz(A) in a thickness direction of the optically anisotropic layer satisfy nz(A)>nx(A)≥ny(A), and
- a thickness direction retardation Rth(A450) of the optically anisotropic layer at a wavelength of 450 nm, a thickness direction retardation Rth(A550) of the optically anisotropic layer at a wavelength of 550 nm, and a thickness direction retardation Rth(A650) of the optically anisotropic layer at a wavelength of 650 nm satisfy the following expressions (1) and (2):
- 0.50<Rth(A450)/Rth(A550)<1.00 (1), and
- 1.00≤Rth(A650)/Rth(A550)<1.25 (2).