To provide a compound for an anisotropic membrane excellent in durability and high in dichroism principally in a short wavelength region, which is useful for the anisotropic membrane such as a polarizing membrane.

This compound for the anisotropic membrane is one whose free acid form is expressed by general formula (1), where in the formula, R1 and R2 each represents a hydrogen atom, a 1-4C alkyl or 1-4C alkoxy group; A represents general formula (a) or (b); and L1 and L2 each represents a -(CH=CH)p- group or -(C≡C)q- group. In the general formula (a), R3 and R4 each represents a hydrogen atom, a 1-4C alkyl or 1-4C alkoxy group. In the general formula (b), R5 and R6 each represents a hydrogen atom, a sulfo group or a hydroxy group.