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Mór Than painted this picture of recruiting by Austrian soldiers during the "Bach period", the time of Habsburg oppression that followed the War of Independence. Under the severe censorship of the time, Mór Thán was only allowed to exhibit it on the condition that he changed the title to "Recruitment before 1848", instead of simply "Recruitment". Imperial soldiers are seen carrying off the best young Hungarian peasant boys before the eyes of the weeping women and girls, while the old people wave and the children look on. A characteristic feature of his style is the central focus he achieves by the gesture of the rhythmically grouped people.
The painting was donated by the Pest Art Association in 1863. Thán's style was influenced by his Viennese master, Karl Rahl, and his colours show the influence of Italian art. He chose his themes from Hungarian history and from village life. His pioneer work in the field of mural painting on a monumental scale is also significant.
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