Understanding Karo People's Culture in the Late 19th Century through Photographs by Kristen Feilberg

As a multicultural country, each ethnic group in Indonesia has its own unique culture, including the Karo people in North Sumatra. Karo culture that continues to change following the dynamics of the socio-cultural life of its people, can be read through historical records or seen from visual documentation in the form of photography. The discussion in this study focuses on photographs containing the history of Karo culture by Kristen Feilberg which were taken at the end of the 19th century. Through these photos, events related to the history of the Karo people are recorded in several perspectives. Content analysis of the three photos by Kristen Feilberg was carried out by referring to Terry Barrett's method: description, interpretation, and evaluation. The results of the analysis show the characteristics of Karo culture such as the tradition of selfdecoration, the function of jewellery as a status symbol, weaving activities and traditional buildings filled with meaning. Historical information in the form of photos has become one of the medias to introduce the culture existed in the past to the younger generation and is important for strengthening awareness of the nation's history.