Liquid crystal optical element comprising a resin layer having a surface hardness of b or less

A chiral nematic liquid crystal optical element, comprising:

• a pair of substrates with transparent electrodes;
• a liquid crystal layer having a memory property interposed between the substrates;
• a metal-oxide layer provided on at least one of the transparent electrodes;
• a first resin layer which is provided on one of the transparent electrodes,
• said first resin layer having a rubbed vertical alignment surface in contact with the liquid crystal layer;
• and
• a second resin layer which is a resin layer selected from the group consisting of a surface layer which has not been subjected to an alignment treatment by rubbing, a vertical alignment layer or a horizontal alignment layer, said second resin layer being provided between the liquid crystal layer and the other of the transparent electrodes,
• wherein said liquid crystal layer exhibits a planar state and a focal conic state;
• and
• wherein the second resin layer has a surface hardness of B or less in terms of a pencil hardness test.