In the title compound, C19H14N2O2, the dihedral angle between the mean planes of the 4-nitro-phenyl ring and the naphthalene ring system is 12.79 (2)°. The imine group displays a C-C-N=C torsion angle of 41.0 (2)° and the C=N group has an E conformation. In the crystal, weak C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds link molecules into layers parallel to the b axis.