Liquid crystal composition, liquid crystal cured layer, optical film, polarizing plate, and image display device

A method for suppressing crystallization while suppressing a decrease in phase transition temperature of a liquid crystal compound from a smectic phase to a nematic phase, by mixing the liquid crystal compound exhibiting smectic properties with a freezing point depressant,

• wherein the liquid crystal compound is a compound represented by Formula (I), and
• the freezing point depressant is mixed with the liquid crystal compound to satisfy Expression (1) and Expression (2-1) or (2-2),
• SP1-MG-SP2 (I)
• in Formula (I),
• SP1 and SP2 each independently represent a spacer group,
• MG represents a mesogen group,
• |Am−As|≥0.2 (1)
• in a case of Am≤As,Aa≥(Am+As)/2 (2-1),
• in a case of Am>As,Aa≤(Am+As)/2 (2-2),
• Here, in Expressions (1), (2-1), and (2-2),
• Am represents an I/O value of the mesogen group of the liquid crystal compound,
• As represents an I/O value of the spacer group of the liquid crystal compound, provided that in a case where structures of SP1 and SP2 in Formula (I) are different from each other, with Am≤As, As represents an I/O value of a spacer group having a larger I/O value, and with Am>As, As represents an I/O value of a spacer group having a smaller I/O value, and
• Aa represents an I/O value of the freezing point depressant.