Cornelia Adriana Stricker

Cornelia "Kee" Adriana Vos-Stricker was a cousin of Vincent van Gogh. While living in Etten in 1881, Vincent fell in love with her. Vos-Striker had been recently widowed and wasn't interested in Van Gogh's feelings for her. He was persistent, but this only served to upset her along with both sides of their families. In response to his pledge of love, she responded with the unequivocal "No, no, never." These words would haunt Van Gogh for the rest of his life.

This unhappy situation reaches a climax in the autumn of 1881 when Van Gogh confronts Vos-Stricker's father in Amsterdam. In order to prove his love for her, Van Gogh holds his hand over the flame of an oil lamp. Fortunately his hand is unhurt, but after this incident he is eventually forced to accept her decision