Crystals of the title compound, C(13)H(10)N(4)O(4), were obtained from a condensation reaction of benzaldehyde and 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine. The molecule assumes an approximately planar E configuration. Within the dinitrophenyl moiety, the average distance for the aromatic C-C bonds close to the imino group [1.417 (3) A] is appreciably longer than the average distance for the other aromatic C-C bonds in the same phenyl ring [1.373 (3) A]. This increased distance may be a result of the overlap of the non-bonding orbital of the imino N atom with the pi orbitals of the arene. It is likely that pi-pi stacking exists in the crystal structure.