The difficulty of photographing a world leader is to see past his carefully curated persona in order to reveal a more intimate portrait.

Mr. Peres, then the president of Israel, evoked both the weight and levity of accumulated wisdom. Whether in the sanctuary of his official residence or among the throng of admirers vying for his ear at an endless stream of public appearances, he possessed the grandeur of a man who had spent his life making history.

His schedule was relentless. I began photographing him one day just after dawn. In the quiet of the morning, he adjusted his tie, pushed on his cuff links as he fielded phone calls, and sat down to work methodically on a speech.

Despite his long list of accomplishments over seven decades in politics, he was humble and industrious, sharp and focused.