An optically variable security element wherein the areal expansion whereof defines a z direction standing perpendicularly thereon, and has a multicolored, reflective areal region. The areal region includes two relief structures arranged at different height levels in the z direction. The relief structures are each supplied with an ink coating which produce a different color impression. The ink coating of the relief structure disposed at a higher level is configured in the feature region as a regular or irregular grid with grid elements and grid spaces. The dimensions of the grid elements and/or grid spaces are below 140 μm at least in one direction, so that, in the feature region, for a viewer from at least one viewing angle, the ink coating of the relief structure disposed at a lower level is visible through the grid spaces of the ink coating of the relief structure disposed at a higher level.