When I Was a Work of Art (Lorsque j'étais une oeuvre d'art) is a novel by Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt, a Belgian dramatist and writer.
While being a work of art, Tazio becomes depressed, feeling that he has lost his humanity and his freedom.
Tazio then meets a blind painter named Carlos Hannibal and his daughter Fiona.
The lawsuit culminates when Lama announces that Tazio is a fake of the original Adam Bis and is hence worthless.
The novel was generally well-received, with a review in the Figaro calling it an "original love story" with "excellent social commentary.