Illegal

Almost certainly this photograph would have been illegal when originally shot. Based on some clues we can see, this probably could be dated to about 1920 or so. That's likely the reason the men shielded their faces, but they did so in a creative way -- a picture like this meant they likely would be arrested and prosecuted if discovered.

Perhaps this was a hidden keepsake one of them treasured when the two of them were apart. The blatantly explicit hard phalluses notch the whole image up to a truly erotic level.

There's something wonderfully artistic about this photo, but at the same time it's also a little sad. They had to love in secret, and that love clearly is visible in this image. I hope this was a true story with a happy ending.