A display element comprising a pair of electrodes having therebetween an electrolyte layer containing silver or a silver-containing compound, the display element being driven by the pair of electrodes so as to electrochemically dissolve silver or to electrochemically deposit silver, wherein the electrolyte layer contains an antioxidant selected from the group consisting of a phenolic antioxidant, a phosphoric acid antioxidant, a sulfur-containing antioxidant, an amine antioxidant and a hydroquinone derivative.